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Jannik Sinner goes to hit a tennis ball during the 2024 ATP Finals.
Jannik Sinner at the 2024 ATP Finals. He went on to win the tournament.

Clive Brunskill/Getty Images

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.

*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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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