Alcaraz vs Sinner delivers men’s final most watched in a decade – but falls short of top 3 overall

When Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner stepped onto Arthur Ashe Stadium for their long-anticipated showdown, expectations were sky-high. Their rivalry has become the defining narrative of modern men’s tennis, and this time the stakes were higher than ever. The numbers proved it: ESPN revealed that the 2025 US Open men’s final drew 3 million viewers, the network’s biggest audience for the event in ten years. Not since Novak Djokovic’s clash with Roger Federer in 2015 has a men’s final attracted such a large television audience in the United States.

The match itself justified the hype. Alcaraz, showcasing his explosive baseline game and relentless energy, overpowered Sinner in four sets, 6-2, 3-6, 6-1, 6-4. Beyond the scoreline, what kept fans glued to the broadcast was the drama of two young superstars embodying the sport’s future.

In an era where tennis has sometimes struggled to keep audiences at the level of the Big Three’s golden age, Alcaraz and Sinner delivered a reminder that compelling rivalries drive the sport forward. Their 15th meeting was not just about a trophy but about a generational baton being firmly passed.

On the women’s side, Aryna Sabalenka defended her reputation as one of the most dominant players of the decade by defeating Amanda Anisimova 6-3, 7-6. That final drew 2.4 million viewers, a significant rise compared to 2024, when only 1.8 million tuned in. While it didn’t reach the historic peak of 2019—when Bianca Andreescu’s triumph over Serena Williams attracted 3.7 million viewers—it still demonstrated that audiences remain deeply engaged when the storylines combine star power with national interest.

The 2023 final, where Coco Gauff lifted her maiden Slam in front of a roaring home crowd, is another testament: 3.4 million tuned in to watch her beat Sabalenka, showing the power of a breakthrough moment for an American champion.

Together, these figures signal a healthy trajectory for the sport. For men’s tennis, the Alcaraz–Sinner rivalry has clearly emerged as a ratings magnet, reminiscent of the Federer–Nadal era. On the women’s side, Serena’s unmatched drawing power set the benchmark in 2019, but Gauff and Sabalenka are proving that the WTA can continue delivering finals that resonate far beyond die-hard fans.

ESPN’s highest viewership in a decade suggests that, despite the splintered media landscape of 2025, the US Open remains capable of commanding mass audiences when the players at the centre of the story capture the public’s imagination.