US Open Sets ESPN Opening-Day Viewership Record

Sunday’s first-round coverage averaged 914,000 viewers across ESPN, ESPN2, and ABC. The broadcast peaked at 1.3 million viewers during primetime. Overall opening-day viewership was up 13% compared to last year.

ABC alone averaged 1.25 million viewers, a 7% increase year over year. The biggest attraction was Mariano Navone’s stunning upset of Novak Djokovic.

That five-set thriller averaged 958,000 viewers and also peaked at 1.3 million. Djokovic’s shock first-round exit became one of the most-watched matches of the tournament’s opening day.