Numbers rarely lie in sport, and the latest television data from Wimbledon has offered a compelling glimpse into the contrasting star power of Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner heading into the US Open.
The 2026 Wimbledon final between Sinner and Alexander Zverev attracted a peak audience of 5.95 million viewers on BBC One. Compare that to the 2025 final, where Sinner defeated Alcaraz in four sets to claim his first Wimbledon title, and the difference is staggering. That match pulled in a peak of 8.3 million viewers on the same broadcaster. The key variable between the two finals? Alcaraz's presence, or lack thereof.
The Spaniard had been sidelined since suffering a wrist injury against Otto Virtanen in the first round of the Barcelona Open earlier this year. That setback forced him to miss the entire clay and grass court seasons, including Roland Garros and Wimbledon, the longest absence of his career since joining the ATP Tour in 2020.
Analyst and former player Patrick McEnroe addressed the popularity gap on The Spout Podcast, pointing to contrasting playing styles and personalities. He praised Sinner's extraordinary ball-striking, calling it among the best he has ever witnessed from the baseline, but acknowledged that Alcaraz brings a broader variety of shot-making and a more expressive on-court personality. McEnroe also noted that Sinner has won four major titles and continues to raise his game to compete with Alcaraz consistently across the calendar.
With both players now expected to feature at Flushing Meadows, the US Open figures to attract massive global interest. TennisDraw users have been locking in their bracket picks around this highly anticipated reunion at hard court's biggest stage.
