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How to watch US Open Tennis online in 2026


The US Open 2026 runs from August 23 to September 13 at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center in New York. Fan Week began on August 23, singles qualifying runs from August 24 - 27, and the main draw starts on Sunday, August 30. The tournament ends with the women’s final on September 12 and the men’s final on September 13.

Stream US Open Tennis in 2026
Dates: August 23 - September 13, 2026
Qualifying: August 24 - 27
Stream anywhere: Get NordVPN – 75% OFF
Stream in the US: ESPN, ESPN2, ABC, ESPN app

Carlos Alcaraz returns as the defending men’s champion after beating Jannik Sinner in the 2025 final, while Aryna Sabalenka is aiming for a third consecutive women’s title. Sinner, however, will not challenge Alcaraz this year: he withdrew from the 2026 US Open on August 21 because of an ongoing right knee injury.

For viewers in Australia, Nine provides free US Open coverage through 9Now and its free-to-air channels. Stan Sport is the paid alternative and carries every match live and on demand, with no ad breaks during play.

How to watch US Open Tennis for free with a VPN

Watch Open Tennis logo
  1. Find and download a reliable VPN. I recommend NordVPN, now 75% OFF!
  2. Install the VPN and connect to the Australian server
  3. Visit the 9Now website
  4. Tune in to a match and enjoy it for free!

Where to watch the US Open 2026

Below is a complete overview of confirmed broadcasters by country.

CountryPlatformPriceCoverageFree trialNotes
Australia9Now / 9GemHDFreeSelect live matches, around 2 per dayFree account required. Geo-restricted to Australia
Australia (full coverage)Stan SportAU$20/month add-on (requires Stan base plan)Every match, ad-free, 4KComprehensive multi-court coverage
United StatesESPN / ESPN+ESPN+ from $11.99/monthFull tournamentAdditional coverage on ABC and ESPN2
United Kingdom / IrelandSky Sports / NOWSky subscription or NOW Sports passExclusive, all matchesSky Sports Tennis and Sky Sports+; NOW offers contract-free streaming
CanadaTSN / RDSFrom CA$24.99/monthFull tournamentStreaming via TSN.ca and the TSN app; RDS for French coverage

Why do you need a VPN to watch the US Open online?

US Open broadcast rights are licensed separately in different markets. That is why 9Now serves Australian viewers, ESPN carries the tournament in the US, Sky Sports has the UK and Ireland rights, and TSN and RDS cover Canada.

Streaming services use your IP address to estimate where you are. If you travel outside the country where your subscription or free stream is available, you can therefore encounter a location error even though you normally have access at home.

This content cannot be accessed outside of the US on ESPN

A VPN changes the public IP address visible to the streaming service. For example, an Australian traveling in Europe could connect to an Australian VPN server before opening 9Now. The same principle applies to subscribers trying to reach their usual ESPN, Sky Sports, NOW, Stan Sport, or TSN account while abroad.

9Now content accessed via NordVPN

Best VPNs to watch US Open Tennis online

We’ve put countless VPNs to the test here at Cybernews. When it comes to streaming the US Open online, these are our top VPN providers:

How to watch the US Open in the UK

In the UK, the 2026 US Open will be officially streamed on Sky Sports. If you have a Sky Sports subscription, you can watch the matches live on their dedicated channels or through the Sky Go app.

If you're looking to watch the US Open for free:

  1. Use a VPN to connect to a server in Australia. I recommend NordVPN
  2. Visit the 9Now website
  3. Search for the US Open content and enjoy!

How to watch the US Open in the US

In the US, the US Open will be broadcast by ESPN. You can stream the matches live through the ESPN website or app if you have a cable subscription.

Here’s how you can watch the US Open for free:

  1. Connect to the Australian server using a VPN. I recommend NordVPN
  2. Visit the 9Now website
  3. Start streaming the matches live and enjoy the US Open!

How to watch the US Open in the Australia

In Australia, the US Open will be broadcast on Nine Network. You can watch the matches live on their TV channels or stream them through the 9Now app, which is free but may require an account.

US Open 2026 schedule and key dates

The tournament spans three weeks, including qualifying, Fan Week, and the 15-day main draw.

StageDatesNotes
Qualifying and Fan WeekAugust 23rd-29th, 2026Free-entry week at Flushing Meadows, including the revamped mixed doubles event
Main draw beginsSunday, August 30th, 2026Sunday-start format continues for a second year
Round of 16September 6th-7th, 2026Second Sunday of the main draw
QuarterfinalsSeptember 8th-9th, 2026
SemifinalsSeptember 10th-11th, 2026
Finals weekendSeptember 12th-13th, 2026Women's final Saturday, men's final Sunday

US Open 2026 preview: what's new and who to watch

The 2026 edition comes with a record-breaking backdrop. The USTA has raised total player compensation to $108 million, the largest prize pool in Grand Slam history, with each singles champion earning $5.5 million. The Sunday-start main draw, introduced in 2025, returns for its second year.

Carlos Alcaraz defends the men's title after defeating Jannik Sinner in four sets in last year's final. The Spaniard has not played since April because of a wrist injury and withdrew from the Cincinnati Open to reach New York at full fitness. His rivalry with Sinner has defined the men's game, and the world No. 1 arrives with his own fitness concern after a knee injury forced him out of Cincinnati.

Aryna Sabalenka targets a third consecutive US Open women's title. She also headlines the revamped mixed doubles event during Fan Week, partnering Novak Djokovic for a shot at the event's $1 million prize.

The women's draw has been hit by withdrawals, with Emma Raducanu, Victoria Mboko, and Hailey Baptiste among the high-profile absentees. That opens the door for Iga Swiatek, Coco Gauff, and Elena Rybakina to challenge Sabalenka's dominance.

Conclusion

With a reliable VPN, such as NordVPN, and a stable internet connection, there’s absolutely no reason why you should miss out on any of the US Open Tennis action. No matter where you are in the world, a VPN will enable you to change your IP address and bypass any geo-restrictions put in place by streaming services.

I hope the information in this article has proven useful and made it possible for you to enjoy the US Open Tennis from the comfort of your own home.


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