Where to watch Australian Open for free: Live stream matches from anywhere

Posted by Admin January 17, 2025 Tennis

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The 113th Australian Open is underway, and the tournament is kicking into high gear ahead of its second and final week. We’ve put together everything you need to know about where to watch the Australian Open, including free live streaming options.

The third and fourth rounds continue through the weekend, and the quarter-finals kick off on Monday. Most of the top ATP and WTA players are still in the tournament, including Novak Djokovic, Carlos Alcaraz, Alexander Zverev, Iga Swiatek, and Coco Gauff. 2024 Australian Open champions Jannik Sinner and Aryna Sabalenka are also still in the competition.

There have been a few notable exits so far. Casper Ruud, Qinwen Zheng, and Daniil Medvedev were all eliminated in the second round, and Jessica Pegula was bounced in the third. Two-time Australian Open champ Naomi Osaka had to stop play during a third-round match due to an abdominal injury flair-up, putting an end to her time at this year’s tournament.

There are tons of streaming avenues to explore for the Australian Open, including a free option. Even if you have cable, we recommend that true tennis fanatics in the US get ESPN Plus since the streaming service has every match. We’ll break down all of the best options below.

Where to watch the Australian Open: quick links

Access streaming options below from anywhere: ExpressVPN (risk-free for 30 days)
AU: 9Now (FREE)
US: ESPN+ (all), ESPN, ESPN2, and Tennis Channel (select matches):
UK: Eurosport on Discovery Plus (from £7/month)
When: January 11-26, 2025
Daily match times from: 7 p.m. ET / 12 a.m. GMT / 8 a.m. AWST
Next notable matches:
- R3: Jasmine Paolini vs. Elina Svitolina
- R3: Iga Swiatek vs. Emma Raducanu
- R3: Emma Navarro vs. Ons Jabeur
- R3: Madison Keys vs. Danielle Collins
- R3: Elena Rybakina vs. Dayana Yastremska
- R3: Jannik Sinner vs. Marcos Giron
- R4: Novak Djokovic vs. Jiri Lehecka
- R4: Jack Draper vs. Carlos Alcaraz
- R4: Alejandro Davidovich Fokina vs. Tommy Paul
- R4: Aryna Sabalenka vs. Mirra Andreeva
- R4: Coco Gauff vs. Belinda Bencic
- R4: Ugo Humbert vs. Alexander Zverev

*You’ll need an extra sports add-on to Sling, Fubo, and DirecTV if you want the Tennis Channel, too.

Where to watch the Australian Open in the US

The Australian Open is spread across multiple ESPN properties (including ESPN, ESPN2, and ESPN Plus) and the Tennis Channel in the United States. Your best bet is ESPN Plus, which will live stream every match.

From what we’ve seen so far on ESPN/2, they’re favoring coverage of American players over much higher-ranked stars. So ESPN+ is certainly looking like the better option if you’d prefer to watch the best international players when there is a scheduling clash.

ESPN Plus costs $12 per month, making it the cheapest way to live stream the tournament in the US. Subscriptions unlock expansive tennis coverage and access to select live college sporting events, golf, UFC, and much more. Even if you have cable, ESPN Plus will most likely be necessary if you want to watch all matches live.

ESPN Plus logo

ESPN+ (Monthly Plan)

ESPN Plus is designed for sports, giving subscribers access to live MLB, NHL, NFL, soccer, golf, and UFC fights. You can pay $12 monthly or go for an annual deal, which saves you about $20 a year. There’s also a bundle with Hulu and Disney Plus, which offers an even better discount.

Due to the time delay between the US and Australia, some of the TV coverage will be available on tape delay so that it airs during a time when more people are awake. For example, some of the delayed First Round coverage hit ESPN2 last Sunday starting at 9 a.m. ET. Additional replay First Round action was available on the Tennis Channel on Sunday starting at 12 p.m. ET. The Tennis Channel picks up live coverage from 5 p.m. ET.

If you are looking for a more comprehensive live TV streaming coverage akin to cable, it might be time to try out a live TV streaming package like Sling TV, Fubo, or DirecTV Stream. These month-to-month options are low-commitment cable alternatives that rank among the best sports streaming services we’ve found.

Sling TV is the cheapest of the bunch. Subscriptions start at $46 per month for the Sling Orange plan, which carries ESPN, ESPN2, and 33 other live channels. If you want Tennis Channel coverage, you’ll need to add on the Sports Extra for an additional $11 per month. This will also grant you access to several other popular sports channels, including NBA TV, the MLB Network, and beIN Sports. Right now, new users can get $23 off their first month of service.

Sling Orange

You can access 35 live channels with Sling Orange, including ESPN, ESPN2, and ESPN3. Right now, you can get 50% off your first month before subscriptions go back to $46 a month, which you can cancel any time.

Fubo and DirecTV Stream are even more elaborate live TV streaming alternatives with anywhere from 90 to 200+ live channels, depending on which plan and tier you sign up for. These are great options for people seeking expansive cable alternatives or those looking for a streaming service with a free trial offer for new customers. DirecTV Stream subscriptions start at $87 per month and Fubo plans start at $80 per month. Both streaming services carry ESPN and ESPN2 in their base plans, but you’ll need to opt into Fubo Elite for $90 per month (or get Fubo’s Sports Plus add-on for an extra $11 per month) or get the DirecTV Stream Sports Pack add-on for an extra $15 per month to live stream the Tennis Channel.

DirecTV Stream logo

DirecTV Stream

Previously known as AT&T TV, DirecTV Stream offers streaming access to a large selection of live channels, including most key networks typically found in traditional cable packages.

logo fubo contained

Fubo Essential

Fubo’s most essential tier features most of the same offerings as its Pro plan (NBC, ABC, CBS, FOX, ESPN, etc.), but it lacks regional sports networks that show NBA, NHL, and MLB games. This will remove any applicable extra RSN fees from your monthly bill.

Where to watch the Australian Open in the UK

The Australian Open will be available on Eurosport in the UK. Viewers will probably remember that there used to be a separate Eurosport Player, but now all streaming options are available through Discovery Plus. You’ll need to subscribe to the Standard (£7 per month) or Premium (£31 per month) subscriptions to access Australian Open coverage since Basic plans won’t carry the tournament.

Where to watch the Australian Open in Australia

The Australian Open is available on 9Now in Australia. This is a free streaming option, and you only need to create an account to get started. Australia is also carrying paid coverage on Stan Sport, so if you find that any of the minor matches are missing from the TV guide, it might be worth checking out Stan. But after monitoring coverage over the first few days, we haven’t spotted any missing matches from the free coverage on 9Now.

How to watch the Australian Open from anywhere

If you happen to be away from Australia during any notable matches, you can still access the free live streaming option mentioned above with the help of a VPN. Short for virtual private networks, VPNs let people change their virtual locations so that they can access their go-to websites from anywhere. They’re extra popular among those looking to upgrade their cybersecurity and keep up with their usual apps while traveling abroad.

ExpressVPN is our top recommendation. It’s one of the best VPN providers out there and comes with a hassle-free 30-day money-back guarantee, so it’s no sweat if you find that it’s not helping you out. You can find more information in our ExpressVPN review, and keep reading to learn how to use a VPN.

ExpressVPN logo

ExpressVPN Plan

With its consistent performance, reliable security, and expansive global streaming features, ExpressVPN is the best VPN out there, excelling in every spec and offering many advanced features that make it exceptional. Better yet, you can save more than 60% right now and get up to four months free.

How to watch the Australian Open with a VPN

Sign up for a VPN if you don’t already have one.
Install it on the device you’re using to watch.
Turn it on and set it to an Australian location.
Create a 9Now account if you don’t already have one.
Enjoy the Australian Open!

Note: The use of VPNs is illegal in certain countries, and using VPNs to access region-locked streaming content might constitute a breach of the terms of use for certain services. Insider does not endorse or condone the illegal use of VPNs.

Lillian Brown

Associate Editor of Streaming

Lillian Brown is the Associate Editor of Streaming on Business Insider’s Reviews team. A lifelong entertainment and media buff, she specializes in helping you find how to watch your favorite shows, movies, and sporting events.ExperienceLillian has been writing about entertainment, sports, TV, and film for over six years, starting her career in the Living/Arts department of The Boston Globe. She went on to write entertainment features, roundups, and conduct celebrity interviews for publications like Vulture, TV Guide, Esquire, Time, and The Daily Beast before joining Business Insider as a streaming specialist. In her current role, she writes about everything from finding the right VPN for watching overseas soccer games to choosing between the endless number of streaming services out there. When she’s not writing, she is editing stories from freelancers or fellow Reviews team members. Lillian is also an expert deal hunter. She loves the thrill of sharing an amazing discount with readers, whether it be on her favorite streaming services or on products she knows our team loves and recommends. She plays an active role in writing about sales and deals for the Reviews team.Why you can trust LillianWhether she’s testing streaming platform interfaces or actively comparing channel offerings between services, Lillian always has her finger on the pulse of what’s new in entertainment. She has tested nearly every streaming service and is an expert when it comes to VPNs. She is the first person to know when a streaming service has changed its price, and whether or not it’s still worth paying for. As a sports fan, she also knows exactly where the next big playoff game is streaming, what time it starts, and where they’re playing. Expertise

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Outside of workMost of the time, you can find Lillian watching a horror movie, WNBA game (go Liberty!), or long-distance running. She is located in Boston.