USTA Media Release, September 2, 2026

US Open Fan Week drove historic reach for the game of tennis this year, welcoming and engaging unprecedented numbers of fans onsite at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center, online through US Open digital and social platforms, and through captivating broadcast coverage from ESPN. Once again, the event delivered seven days of free experiences, including watching top player practices and competition, while reaffirming the US Open as tennis’ most valuable platform.

“The response to this year’s Fan Week has been nothing short of extraordinary,” said Craig Tiley, USTA CEO. “We saw an incredible number of fans take advantage of our free site access and programming, and the reaction to the world-class content and entertainment we delivered has been incredibly gratifying. When you pair that on-site energy with our record-breaking broadcast and digital reach, it’s clear we are connecting with more fans than ever before, both here in the U.S. and across the globe.”

Wide Range of Free Experiences for Fans of All Ages

Over the seven days of free access, a record number of fans got an up-close look at the world’s best players during practices and enjoyed a packed lineup of world-class tennis, entertainment and special events, all for free.

Fan Access Pass registration reached a new high, up 66 percent over 2025, underscoring record demand for Fan Week’s free events. Additionally, more than 54,000 fans and families enjoyed Arthur Ashe Kids’ Day – the largest grassroots tennis event in the world – with crowd sizes shifting continuously over the course of 12 hours.

Beyond the action on court, Fan Week 2026 offered even more ways to enjoy the week, with special moments and experiences throughout the grounds, including:

• The Spider-Man comic book phenomenon: A fan favorite returned and became more popular than ever – this year’s Marvel comic collaboration, featuring Spider-Man and championing the theme of the 2026 US Open. Forty-five thousand print copies were distributed to fans for free throughout Fan Week, and the hunt for the five, limited-edition covers celebrating each of New York’s five boroughs, which were distributed to the first 1,000 attendees each day Monday through Friday, drove the comic book to become a pop-up cultural phenomenon.
• Nearly 2,500 hours of player practice were free and open to the public, access to top stars rivaled by few major international events.
• Savannah Bananas performance with tennis stars: Arthur Ashe Stadium was packed for a free, first-of-its-kind show featuring the viral Savannah Bananas sharing the court with tennis legends and some of the game’s legends and top stars of today, including Mirra Andreeva, Elina Svitolina, Andre Agassi and rising Americans Jordan Lee and Jordyn Hazelitt.
• The US Open Fan Week Stage showcased more than 30 different performances, including top singers and DJs, Broadway collaborations and cultural entertainment from around New York City and Queens institutions.
• US Open SERVED Media Day Live Show: Six different podcasts produced live shows from the Fan Week Stage. SERVED, hosted by Andy Roddick, brought the US Open Media Day Live Show to the Fan Week Stage, turning Media Day into a high-energy, interactive experience on the plaza. The live show featured expert commentary, giveaways and interviews with the game’s biggest stars, including Coco Gauff, Carlos Alcaraz, Aryna Sabalenka, and many more.
• Free gifts: Official US Open partners offered a number of free giveaways throughout Fan Week, including custom tennis balls, stadium cushions, phone charms, hand fans, hats, sunscreen, and more.

Tennis’ Most Valuable Platform

The US Open continues to be the most valuable platform to bring tennis to worldwide audiences while inspiring new and returning players to pick up a racquet. Fan Week 2026 demonstrated that value once again with:

• Record setting global viewership across ESPN for ticketed events:
  • Tuesday’s Mixed Doubles coverage hit new highs in the second year of this reimagined event. ESPN2 averaged 363,000 viewers, up 138 percent over 2025. Viewership peaked with 502,000 viewers during Carlos Alcaraz/Serena Williams vs. Belinda Bencic/Flavio Cobolli. 
  • Wednesday’s Mixed Doubles coverage across ESPN and ESPN2 delivered 492,000 viewers, up 43 percent over 2025. The Semifinals on ESPN2 averaged 444,000 viewers. The Mixed Doubles Championship on ESPN averaged 552,000 viewers.
  • New this year, Tuesday’s Roger Federer: An Icon Returns to New York event, aired on ESPN2 and averaged 528,000 viewers.
• Unprecedented fan engagement with digital content: During Fan Week, US Open digital platforms generated more than 6.3 million visits and 42.3 million page views, with page views up 35 percent year-over-year. Engagement with the US Open app rose nearly 12 percent, driven by high demand for the official Fan Week schedule. Qualifying Tournament video views also increased significantly, up nearly 50 percent year-over-year.
• Record numbers engaged on social: US Open official social media channels generated 711 million total interactions during Fan Week, a 276-percent increase over 2025.
• Sellout ticketed events at Arthur Ashe Stadium: All of Fan Week’s signature, ticketed events – the US Open Mixed Doubles Championship (August 25-26), Roger Federer: An Icon Returns to New York and Stars of the Open – drew sellout crowds.