How to Watch the 2026 US Open: Live Streaming Options
The early nerves are gone. Round one is in the books. Day 5 at the 2026 US Open arrives with the draw tightening, the stakes rising, and a slate of heavyweight clashes ready to light up Queens.
Alexander Zverev against Quentin Halys. Coco Gauff under the lights against Paula Badosa. Naomi Osaka back on a Grand Slam stage. This is the point in the fortnight when the tournament stops easing in and starts to bite.
And you don’t need a cable subscription to see any of it.
How to Watch the US Open in the US
ESPN remains the gatekeeper for the US Open. The bulk of the coverage runs through ESPN and ESPN2, with selected matches also on ABC and the ESPN app. If you’ve cut the cord, your route into Flushing Meadows runs through live TV streaming services or ESPN’s own platform.
Here’s how the main options stack up:
- DirecTV The base package starts at $59.99 for the first month and includes ABC and ESPN+. With that, you’re covered for the primary US Open broadcasts.
- ESPN Unlimited ESPN’s standalone streaming service starts at $29.99 per month, giving you live sports and an archive of ESPN programming. It’s a direct line into the network’s tennis coverage.
- Fubo Fubo’s Sports plan, at $65.99 per month, carries ABC, ESPN, and ESPN2, with a quarterly billing option also available. For viewers who want a broader sports bundle around the tennis, it’s a strong fit.
- Sling Sling’s Essentials plan costs $19.99 per month and includes ESPN and ESPN2. For a shorter commitment, a Sling TV Day Pass at $4.99 lets you drop in just for the matches you care about.
- YouTube TV The Sports Plan, priced at $64.99 per month, delivers ABC, ESPN, and ESPN2, giving you full access to the main broadcast channels for the tournament.
If you’re hunting for a no-cost route, some of these services still offer free trials. DirecTV, FuboTV, and YouTube TV are the primary candidates. Time it right, and you can ride a trial through a crucial stretch of the Open without paying a cent.
Watching the US Open for Free – Legally
The most intriguing free option this year sits on the other side of the world.
Australian broadcaster 9Now is streaming the 2026 US Open at no cost. If you’re physically in Australia, it’s as simple as loading up the platform and hitting play.
If you’re not, you may be able to access that feed with a virtual private network (VPN). A VPN lets you connect through a server in another country, which can open up geo-restricted streams.
The recommended route:
- Subscribe to a streaming-friendly VPN such as ExpressVPN.
- Download the VPN app on your preferred device.
- Connect to an Australian server.
- Head to 9Now and start watching.
The strongest VPN services, including ExpressVPN, are paid products, though many offer free trials for first-time users. Use that window well, and you can watch the US Open without touching your regular TV bill.
One last technical tweak: for live sport, enabling your TV’s motion-smoothing setting can make fast-paced play appear clearer. Just remember to turn it off afterwards unless you enjoy your dramas and films with the soap-opera sheen.
Today’s Key Matches – September 2 Schedule
Play begins at 11 a.m. ET, and the schedule is loaded with storylines.
Women’s Singles – Round Two
- 11:30 a.m. ET Naomi Osaka vs. Kateřina Siniaková
- 12:40 p.m. ET Alex Eala vs. Oleksandra Oliynykova
- 7 p.m. ET Coco Gauff vs. Paula Badosa
Osaka’s presence always draws attention, but the evening belongs to Gauff. Under the lights, at home, against a seasoned opponent in Badosa, it has all the ingredients of a statement match.
Men’s Singles – Round Two
- 11 a.m. ET Félix Auger-Aliassime vs. Karen Khachanov
- 1 p.m. ET Taylor Fritz vs. Mattia Bellucci
- 7 p.m. ET Learner Tien vs. Gael Monfils
- 8:10 p.m. ET Alexander Zverev vs. Quentin Halys
Auger-Aliassime’s power, Khachanov’s grit, Fritz carrying American hopes, Monfils bringing his usual theatre, and the top-seeded Zverev closing the night – it’s a full day’s drama packed into one schedule.
Tournament Calendar: Three Weeks in Queens
The 2026 US Open stretches across three weeks at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center in Queens, New York, running from Sunday, August 23, to Sunday, September 13.
The event is layered, with different draws overlapping:
- Qualifying events: August 24–27
- Men’s and women’s singles main draw: August 30–September 13
- Mixed doubles: August 24–26
- Men’s and women’s doubles: September 3–12
- Junior events: September 3–12
- Wheelchair events: September 8–12
Finals weekend, as always, brings the climax:
- Women’s Doubles Final: Friday, September 11
- Women’s Singles Final and Men’s Doubles Final: Saturday, September 12
- Men’s Singles Final: Sunday, September 13
First staged in 1881, the US Open is the second-oldest of the Grand Slams, behind only Wimbledon. Age has not dulled it. If anything, the New York major has become the sport’s loudest, most unforgiving stage.
Who’s in the 2026 Field?
This year’s draw is stacked with pedigree. Seventeen former Grand Slam singles champions are in the field, ten of them past US Open winners.
On the men’s side, one notable absence stands out: Jannik Sinner has been ruled out through injury. His withdrawal shifts the balance at the top, clearing a path for a new order of favourites.
The top seeds:
- Alexander Zverev (1)
- Carlos Alcaraz (2)
- Félix Auger-Aliassime (3)
Each of the three brings a distinct style and storyline, from Zverev’s pursuit of a defining Slam to Alcaraz’s all-court brilliance and Auger-Aliassime’s push to convert potential into trophies.
In the women’s draw, the leading trio is just as imposing:
- Aryna Sabalenka (1)
- Elena Rybakina (2)
- Jessica Pegula (3)
Sabalenka’s raw power, Rybakina’s clean hitting, and Pegula’s consistency and home support set the tone at the top of the bracket.
The United States leads all nations with 28 players in the main draw. Beyond Pegula and Gauff, there is depth everywhere: Amanda Anisimova, Ben Shelton, Taylor Fritz, and the evergreen Venus Williams among those carrying the flag.
The names are in place. The schedule is set. The storylines are already starting to collide.
All that’s left is to pick your platform, lock in your stream, and see who survives New York’s three-week test.
