Coco Gauff’s French Open victory over Aryna Sabalenka was the most-watched women’s final at Roland Garros since 2016.

Overall, ratings for the full tournament were up 25 percent in its first year on TNT and TruTV over the 2024 marks on NBC and Tennis Channel.

American star Gauff’s three-set victory over Sabalenka of Belarus averaged 1.47 million viewers, up 94 percent than the previous year (756,000) when Poland’s Iga Swiatek defeated Italy’s Jasmine Paolini.

Serena Williams defeated Spain’s Garbine Muguruza in the 2016 finals when an average of 1.5 millions tuned in.

On the men’s side, Carlos Alcaraz’s marathon five-set victory over Italy’s Jannik Sinner drew 1.8 million viewers, making it the most-watched men’s final since Novak Djokovic defeated Stefanos Tsitsipas in the 2021 finals (1.9 million).

Alcaraz of Spain needed five hours and 29 minutes to outduel Sinner in a drama-filled match.

This was the first season of TNT’s 10-year, $650 million deal to televise the French Open.

–Field Level Media

Chinese sport is showing resilience in spite of sluggish economy

Sports
Greater China
Strategy

As consumer demand in China continues to show signs of weakness, sports brands in the country are benefiting from higher-profile events, investment in outdoor infrastructure, and increasing health awareness among the middle class.

Why Chinese sport matters 

Sports is significant to China’s marketing landscape for two reasons, notes a 2024 consumer report from Aperture China – and that’s government support and investment, as well as a grassroots movement that emerged out of the pandemic. This has spurred an interest in sports as a whole and urban outdoor sports in particular. 

Moreover, China’s sports ecosystem is changing. More young athletes are competing and training abroad and they’re emerging as dynamic personal brands that embody trustworthiness. One recent example is that of Olympian Eileen Gu, who has gone on to strike lucrative deals with the likes of Louis Vuitton.

In order to forge deeper connections, brands should consider partnering with relatable Chinese Gen Z athletes that have a growing influence among a sizable, young consumer market. This low-risk, high-reward approach is fast becoming a strategic cornerstone.

What’s happening 

• Shanghai hosted 178 sports events last year, generating approximately 11.378 billion yuan (US$1.58bn) of economic returns, reports Shine, quoting a report released by the Shanghai Sport Bureau.
• The Formula 1 Chinese Grand Prix, held in March, drew a record 220,000 spectators, 15% of which were international, spurring consumption and foot traffic.
• Families are spending more on their children’s sports training, Yu Shiping, an official from the Shanghai Sport Bureau, tells Shine, with children outspending adults.
• Major sports events such as the recent Paris Olympics have helped boost the profile of Chinese athletes, with some striking deals with fashion and luxury brands, including Louis Vuitton and Tiffany and Co. 
• China has plans to build 100 outdoor high-quality sports venues by 2030, boosting what is already a high-growth outdoor sports sector – it’s expected to top 3 trillion yuan ($413bn) this year, notes China Daily Asia. 
• Leading Chinese brands Anta and Li-Ning are capitalising on the trend for sportswear that is both functional and fashionable, and are expanding their footprint globally by leaning into their Chinese heritage. 

Sourced from Shine, Jing Daily, China Daily, WARC

^{[Image: Getty]}

EUGENE, Ore. — Obiora Okeke will represent the Columbia Track & Field team at the Outdoor NCAA Championships in Eugene, Oregon tomorrow night.

Okeke punched his ticket to the NCAA Finals on Memorial Day Weekend at the NCAA Outdoor Eastern Prelims in Jacksonville. In order to advance, Okeke needed a top-12 finish and he came through in a big way. After fouls on both his first two throws, Okeke clutched up on his third and final throw with an impressive mark of 19.52m (64-1) to finish fourth overall and secure his spot in tomorrow’s finals. 

Okeke will be competing in the final round of the men’s shot put on Wednesday night at 9:15 p.m. eastern time. The field consists of 24 student-athletes broken into two flights. Each student-athlete will receive three throws, with the top-nine marks earning three more throws and a chance at the NCAA Title. 

The top-eight overall finishers in the event will be named an NCAA All-American. 9-16 will receive NCAA All-American Second Team honors. 

Live television coverage of the NCAA Track & Field Championships will be on the ESPN family of networks. The men’s shot put can be streamed on ESPN+, HERE. Live results can be tracked HERE. 

 

Stay up to date on all things Columbia track & field by following the Lions on Twitter (@CULionsXCTF), Instagram (@culionsxctf) and on Facebook (@ColumbiaAthletics).

 

2025 VOLLEYBALL SCHEDULE
 
CEDARVILLE, Ohio – The Cedarville Invite plus a match on Homecoming Saturday highlights the 2025 volleyball schedule.
 
The Lady Jackets will play 12 contests in the Callan Athletic Center across ten dates beginning with their own tournament on September 12-13.
 
The hosts will welcome D’Youville, Indianapolis, Saginaw Valley State, and West Liberty to the ten-match round robin event.
 
Cedarville will be on campus for Homecoming Saturday for the first time in three years when Findlay visits for a G-MAC encounter.
 
There are seven other home matches culminating with Senior Night on November 15 against Walsh in the regular season finale.
 
Following an exhibition at Division I Ball State on August 23, CU opens the campaign at the Warrior Invitational on September 5-6 against Upper Iowa, Winona State, and host Wayne State.
 
The Midwest Region Crossover returns to Hammond, Indiana on October 17-18.
 
The G-MAC Championship is scheduled for November 18, 21, and 22 with the quarterfinals on campus sites and then the top remaining seed hosting the semifinals and final.
 
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PHILADELPHIA — For the second-straight year, Matthew Conway was selected to the Philly-SIDA Academic All-Area Men’s Track & Field Team.

The team is selected by votes from 30 four-year institutions in the Philadelphia metropolitan area. To be considered for Academic All-Area recognition, individuals had to have at least a 3.3 GPA or above.

The Chemical Engineering major, who also minors in Spanish, is a 2024-25 Goldwater Scholarship Winner, a two-time College Sports Communicators Academic (CSC) All-District, a Rowan Scholar of Distinction (Student-Athletes with 3.80 or above), an NJAC All-Academic Honorable Mention, a member of Chi Alpha Sigma (National Student-Athlete Honor Society), and is a board member of Rowan’s American Institute of Chemical Engineers chapter. The recent graduate plans to pursue a Ph.D. in chemical engineering

On the track, Conway is a two-time NJAC Outdoor Champion in the 10,000 meters (2024, 2025), and an 2025 NJAC Indoor Champion in the 5000 meters. He is also a member of the Profs’ cross country team. He was part of three NJAC Championship teams this season (cross country, indoor track & field, and outdoor track & field).

Conway is joined on the Academic All-Area team by Villanova’s Liam Murphy and Dan Watcke, Haverford’s Reza Eshghi and Peter LaRochelle, Javon Bowen of Holy Family, Kampton Kam of Penn, Samuel Knowles of Widener, Jayden McKeen of Ursinus, and Luke Noss of Saint Joseph’s. Murphy was named the performer of the year.