How Many People Watch Tennis?

What started as a game of French handball has evolved into one of the most popular sports to be watched and played around the world. But just how many people watch tennis and what kind of person would they be categorized as? Where are they based? How old are they? Do they all play tennis as well as watch it? We have answers to all these questions.

Tennis Viewership Statistics

• The Women’s Tennis Association amassed a global audience record of over 1 billion viewers in 2023
• Tennis Channel receives an average of 57,000 viewers weekly, putting it in the top 100 most popular cable channels.
• The general consumer audience for tennis has grown steadily, with 14% of consumers following tennis regularly in 2021, increasing to 15% in 2023.
• Last year, the Wimbledon Men’s Final saw a peak televised viewership of 11.3 million viewers on BBC alone.
• Total daily viewers for Tennis Channel are up 15% year-on-year
• Tennis Channel, the prime network for tennis streaming, was declared the fastest growing US TV network in 2019
• In the United States, tennis growth has steadily increased for consecutive years, with nearly 25 million players in the country.
• The United States Tennis Association, or USTA, participation and league affiliation grew by 11% in 2022, adopting a new strategy to get 35 million players by 2035
• The United States Tennis Association, or USTA, participation and league affiliation grew by 11% in 2022, adopting a new strategy to get 35 million players by 2035
• The share of the global population following tennis has increased year-by-year, reaching 15% in 2023.

How Many People Watch Tennis Globally?

Tennis has over 1 billion fans globally! Tennis is statistically the most popular and viewed in the countries where the Grand Slams are held (England, the United States, France, and Australia), but the sport has amassed a large following in other countries and localities as well. Perhaps surprisingly, the country which shares the largest percentage of fans per country is Spain. 30% of Spaniards follow tennis.

How Many People Watch Tennis: Grand Slams Comparison

On average, watching the Grand Slams digitally is becoming increasingly popular, with fans watching 36% longer.

Wimbledon: While always the most recognizable Grand Slam, Wimbledon continued to grow in popularity among global audiences, reaching a new record for attendance in 2023 with over 532,000 guests. In 2022, Wimbledon was the most watched Grand Slam worldwide, with over 280 million fans tuning in. The 2013 Wimbledon finals generated the biggest UK tennis TV audience in history, with 17.3 million viewers watching. Digitally, Wimbledon has seen a 162% increase in engagement on social media platforms since 2022, demonstrating the increasing popularity of the Slam.

U.S. Open: The 2023 U.S. Open generated new, unprecedented viewership, in-person and digitally. The U.S. Open became the first Grand Slam to host over 950,000 spectators in a 3-week period! The championships for both men and women last year topped the tournament’s historical attendance, bringing in over 28,000 spectators to both sessions. The tournament also surpassed its single day attendance records last year, bringing over 73,000 fans in on a single day!

Roland Garros: In 2022, Roland Garros brought in over 613,000 spectators, the majority hailing from France. With France bringing in the most viewers, nearly 42 million French fans watched the tournament live through French television channels. Interestingly, China saw unique viewership numbers for Roland Garros, with at least over 112,000 viewers tuning in for at least a minute in China. U.S. attraction to this tournament was not as strong, with 70% of all US adults reporting not being interested at all in the French Open.

Australian Open: Domestically, the 2023 Australian Open racked up 10.1 million viewers through Australian broadcasting networks. The Australian Open broke its previous attendance records, bringing in 839,192 fans in person. Not only was the overall attendance record broken, but a single-day attendance record was set last year, with over 94,854 fans on one day. Compared to the other Slams, the Australian Open saw a drop in international viewership, with the 2023 men’s final being the least watched in nearly a decade.

Other Tennis Viewership Statistics

• As of 2023, Roger Federer was the most popular tennis player, with 29% of fans reporting Federer as their favorite star. 
• For French Open fans, Rafa Nadal is the most popular star. 
• There are many dedicated fans in the United States, with 17% of Americans reporting that they have never missed a French Open final. 
• This year, the Australian Open even beat 2023 records, bringing over 1 million fans during the main draw. 
• Over 191,000 girls in high school play tennis in the United States.
• Spain’s tennis viewership doubles the global average, putting them in the top spot for a given country’s tennis appreciation. Australia and Switzerland ranked second and third.