Exploring the popularity of the French Open among Americans

With the French Open just around the corner, we look into the demographics of US adults most engaged with the event, their favorite tennis players and their media consumption behavior. Scheduled to take place from May 26 to June 9 in Paris, 5% of Americans consider the tournament one of their ‘top interests’, and an additional 10% are somewhat interested according to YouGov Profiles.

Younger adults, particularly those aged 25-34, show the most enthusiasm, with 8% citing the French Open as a top interest and 16% saying they are somewhat interested. This trend of higher interest among the younger population decreases noticeably with age, as seen in the 55+ age group where only 3% express a top interest.

Men are generally more interested in the French Open than women, with 6% considering it a top interest compared to 4% of women. Moreover, 13% of men are somewhat interested compared to 8% of women. This data suggests that marketing strategies aimed at increasing viewership might benefit from targeting younger adults and males more specifically.

In terms of favorite tennis players, Rafael Nadal (24%) (who has won more French Opens than anyone else in the history of the men's competition), Novak Djokovic (19%), and Venus Williams (19%) are more popular among French Open fans compared to the general US adult population. Naomi Osaka and Andy Murray are also among the favorites.

Additionally, 17% of Americans report that they have never missed watching a French Open final, underscoring the event's significance to a dedicated segment of fans. When it comes to brand engagement, French Open fans favor podcasts (25% French Open fans vs. 14%) and influencer blogs or vlogs (23% French Open fans vs. 12%) significantly more than the general population. This suggests that these platforms could be effective for advertising campaigns targeting tennis enthusiasts.

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Methodology: YouGov Profiles is based on continuously collected data and rolling surveys, rather than from a single limited questionnaire. Profiles data for the US is nationally representative and weighted by age, gender, education, region, and race.

Cover image by cancerresearchracquet.com