The US Open final between Emma Raducanu and Leylah Fernandez recorded a peak total audience of 9.2 million on Channel 4.

Channel 4 conducted a last minute purchase of the media rights to the final, which saw 18-year old player Raducanu become the first British woman to claim a Grand Slam title since 1977.

Furthermore, Channel 4 states that its coverage reached a total of 12.6 million, with a viewership share of 18%, its most successful sports coverage since the 2021 Paralympics.

“We’re delighted that Channel 4, in partnership with Amazon Prime Video, could enable more than nine million people to enjoy one of the most thrilling and historic nights of British sport in a generation,” said Ian Katz, Chief Content Officer, Channel 4.

The free-to-air broadcaster secured the coverage via an agreement with Amazon Prime Video after Raducanu progressed through the semi-finals. 

Amazon – which has pledged to reinvest its revenue into the UK women’s tennis scene – first acquired the rights to UK rights to the US Open in 2018 for £30 million.

Additionally, the figures represent a further sporting success for Channel 4 in 2021, coinciding with its battle to prevent its privatisation by the UK government.

The firm’s sports coverage this year has so far included the England cricket team’s test matches against India – garnering a viewership of nine million across all matches – as well as broadcasting the British and Irish Lions’ rugby union test series against South Africa, marking the team’s return first appearance on terrestrial television since 1993.

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