The much-anticipated doubles comeback of Venus and Serena Williams at the 2026 US Open sparked a significant increase in ESPN’s tennis viewership, marking the network’s strongest ratings in years. This resurgence in audience interest underscores the enduring popularity of the Williams sisters in the sport.
ESPN’s recent viewership data reveals that the sisters’ participation drew millions of fans back to the game, delivering the highest opening-round audience since Serena Williams’ final singles appearance in 2022. Throughout the initial days of the 2026 tournament, the average viewership across ESPN networks reached 846,000, reflecting a renewed enthusiasm for tennis among the audience.
Prime-Time Spotlight Elevates Ratings
The most notable spike occurred on Friday night when the Williams sisters faced off against Hao-Ching Chan and Maya Joint in the first round of the doubles competition. This match, featured prominently during prime time, attracted an average of 1.1 million viewers across ESPN and ESPN2, representing a 17% increase from the same time slot the previous year. As the contest extended into a gripping three-hour battle, the audience swelled to 2.2 million viewers by 10:15 PM ET, captivated by the intense on-court drama.
Despite the excitement generated by the sisters’ return, the outcome of the match defied expectations. After pushing the match to a deciding third set, Venus and Serena Williams surged ahead with a commanding 5-0 lead in the super tiebreak. However, Chan and Joint mounted a remarkable comeback, winning six of the next seven points to secure a narrow victory with a final score of 6-3, 6-7(6), 7-6(7).
Reflecting on the encounter, Maya Joint remarked on the unique atmosphere created by playing against the Williams sisters, stating, “The atmosphere is super special. You’re not really going to get that again with many other players.” This sentiment captures the exceptional aura that Venus and Serena continue to bring to the sport, even in their doubles return.