A monumental showdown has captivated the Italian audience, with record-breaking viewership numbers igniting a fervor for tennis that has never been seen before. The highly anticipated final between Jannik Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz transformed a typical evening into a thrilling spectacle. Initially slated for an 8 PM start, the match kicked off with a delay of about forty minutes, yet this minor hiccup did nothing to dampen the enthusiasm of Italian fans glued to their screens. Even though the Spanish champion ultimately triumphed in four sets, a strong contingent of supporters rallied behind the 24-year-old from San Candido until the very last point.
As the excitement built, the impact of Sinner’s rising star was palpable, drawing not only die-hard fans but also curious onlookers intrigued by the “Sinner effect.” Major broadcasters covering the match experienced an unprecedented surge in viewership, shattering previous records in the process.
Sky Sport achieved remarkable success, drawing an average of 1.542 million viewers during a day filled with sporting events, including the women’s volleyball World Cup final, the GP races in Catalunya and Monza, and the EuroBasket Round of 16 clash between Italy and Slovenia. This viewership figure marks the fourth-highest audience for a tennis match on Sky, boasting an impressive 9.2% share of the TV audience, with peak viewership soaring to 1.72 million by the end of the second set.
However, it was SuperTennis that truly made history. The free-to-air channel, broadcasting on digital terrestrial channel 64, reached a staggering average of 2,436,848 viewers during the final, marking the highest viewing figures ever recorded by the channel. With an extraordinary share of 15.51%, the total viewership exceeded 5.5 million, underscoring the phenomenon that has come to be known as “Sinnermania.”
These jaw-dropping statistics are not merely numbers; they signal a seismic shift in the landscape of Italian sports fandom, showcasing how Jannik Sinner’s ascent has ignited a passion for tennis that is sweeping across the nation. The fervent support for Sinner is a testament to his growing influence and the increasing popularity of tennis in Italy, promising exciting times ahead for the sport and its fans.
