Post by Nielsen

Can one player influence an entire tournament’s views and ratings? The data says yes. Across her career, Serena Williams didn’t just win titles; she changed tennis’ audience. 🎾 2018 US Open: Viewership surged 82% on the days she played compared to the days she didn't 🎾 2022 US Open: She lifted first-week network ratings by 101% year-over-year 🎾 Her 2022 third-round match drew 4.8M viewers and peaked at 6.9M – the most-watched tennis match in ESPN's 43-year history. That same run? Her opening match quadrupled the prior year’s window and beat both the men’s and women’s finals from the year before. Not the matchup. Not the games. Just her. That’s the Serena Effect. Now, for the first time in nearly four years, she’s back. And as the Wimbledon 2026 Championships kick off, it’s exactly the kind of star power brands, networks, and platforms are competing to capture. And exactly what Nielsen measures across every screen. Read the full Serena Effect article ➡️ https://lnkd.in/eNhnzEZC #Wimbledon2026 #NielsenOne #MediaIntelligence