ESPN enjoyed a record audience for the 2026 Wimbledon women’s singles final, as Linda Noskova’s dramatic, three-set victory over fellow Czech countrywoman Karolina Muchova averaged 1.9 million viewers, up 48% from Iga Swiatek’s straight sets win over Amanda Anisimova in 2025 and a new high watermark for the network for a Wimbledon women’s final.
In all, ESPN’s 2026 Wimbledon coverage averaged 853,000 viewers across two weeks, up 18% year-over-year and its second-best tournament-long audience since it began broadcasting the event in 2003 (it took over as exclusive U.S. rights holder in 2012).
The men’s singles final, ATP No. 1 Jannik Sinner’s four-set takedown of No. 2 Alexander Zverev, averaged 2.4 million viewers, down 16% from Sinner’s 2025 victory over Carlos Alcaraz (but up 10% from Alcaraz’s win over Novak Djokovic in 2024).
Other nuggets of note:
- The women’s semifinals averaged 1 million viewers, ESPN’s best mark in 11 years, carried by Muchova’s victory over Coco Gauff, which averaged 1.3 million viewers.
- The men’s semifinals averaged 1.2 million viewers, down 10% from 2025.
- Though Serena Williams’ Wimbledon return ended swiftly, her first-round defeat averaged 1.8 million viewers, buoying ESPN’s most-watched Wimbledon first round on record (average 734,000 viewers).
- ESPN also scored its most-watched Wimbledon second-round coverage to date (689,000 viewers) and best quarterfinals audience (599,000 viewers) since 2009.
