Australian Open

Ashleigh Barty's Australian Open final triumph garners huge ratings Down Under

The top seed's victory over Danielle Collins drew an average audience of 3.6 million with a peak of 4.3 million, according to OzTAM.



Tennis Channel Live: Barty Party Once Again1:39
TC Live: Barty Party On!

Ashleigh Barty's victory at the Australian Open drew huge TV viewership in Australia, becoming the most-watched women's final since the start of current ratings and one of the top annual broadcasts in the country.

Barty defeated Danielle Collins, 6-3, 7-6 (2), to secure the nation's first Australian Open singles title since 1978. The championship clash drew an average audience of 3.6 million with a peak of 4.3 million, according to OzTAM, and a record 241,000 watching online. The figures were highest than any Australian viewership in 2021 except for the AFL final, the country's largest sporting event.

The was also an average of 3.9 million for the trophy ceremony.

MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA - JANUARY 29: Ashleigh Barty of Australia celebrates match point in her Women’s Singles Final match against Danielle Collins of United States during day 13 of the 2022 Australian Open at Melbourne Park on January 29, 2022 in Melbourne, Australia. (Photo by Mark Metcalfe/Getty Images)
© Getty Images

It was also the fourth-highest for a tennis match since records began, which includes the 2005 men's final between Marat Safin and another Aussie, Lleyton Hewitt, which drew 5.7 million, and the 2017 men's final between Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal.

The men's final between Nadal and Daniil Medvedev had an average of 2.1 million tuning in as Nadal came from two sets down to break the men's Grand Slam record.

The all-Australian men's doubles final set a national record for a doubles match, with the Nick Kyrgios-Thanasi Kokkinakis victory receiving an average viewership of 2.3 million and a peak of 3.2 million.

The network Channel Nine is the national broadcaster of the Australian Open.