How to Watch the US Open 2026: Streaming Options and Schedule
The US Open has hit its stride. Round one is gone, the early nerves with it, and Day 5 arrives with the draw tightening and the stakes rising in Queens.
This is the point in the fortnight when the tournament starts to separate the hopefuls from the genuine contenders. Alexander Zverev, Coco Gauff, Naomi Osaka, Felix Auger-Aliassime — the names on today’s order of play tell you everything about where this event is heading.
And you don’t need cable to see a ball struck.
Where the US Open Lives on TV
In the United States, the US Open belongs to ESPN. The network carries the bulk of the action, with selected matches spilling onto ABC and the ESPN app. Anyone still tied to a traditional cable bundle will find the coverage there.
Cut the cord? You still have options.
- DirecTV: The base package starts at $59.99 for the first month and includes ABC and ESPN+.
- ESPN Unlimited: Live sports and archived ESPN programming from $29.99 per month.
- Fubo: ABC, ESPN, and ESPN 2 are part of its Sports plan at $65.99 per month, with a quarterly billing option available.
- Sling: The Essentials plan carries ESPN and ESPN 2 for $19.99 per month. There’s also a $4.99 Sling TV Day Pass if you only want to drop in for specific matches.
- YouTube TV: Its Sports Plan includes ABC, ESPN, and ESPN 2 at $64.99 per month.
For many fans, the choice isn’t about if they can watch, but how they prefer to bundle their sports year-round.
How to Watch the US Open for Free in the US
If you’re not ready to commit to a monthly bill, there’s still a route in.
Several live TV platforms offer free trials. DirecTV, FuboTV, and YouTube TV all typically open their doors to new users for a short window. Time that trial with the US Open and you can ride through a good chunk of the tournament without paying.
Outside the US, the picture changes — and for tennis fans, it improves.
In Australia, 9Now will stream the 2026 US Open for free. For viewers in the US, UK, or elsewhere, that’s where a virtual private network (VPN) comes into play. By connecting to a server in Australia, you can access 9Now’s coverage as if you were watching from Sydney or Melbourne.
ExpressVPN is one of the services built for that kind of location spoofing, with servers scattered across the globe. The process is simple:
- Subscribe to a streaming-friendly VPN such as ExpressVPN.
- Download the VPN app on your chosen device.
- Connect to an Australian server.
- Head to 9Now and start streaming the US Open.
Top-tier VPNs generally aren’t free, but many offer a trial period. Time it right and you can get through the tournament without your card ever being charged.
Once you’re set up, one last tip for the living room: switch on your TV’s motion-smoothing feature for tennis. The ball tracks more cleanly, the rallies feel sharper. Just remember to turn it off when you go back to dramas and films, unless you enjoy the soap opera sheen.
Day 5: The Matches That Matter
Today’s schedule at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center starts at 11 a.m. ET, with round-two ties scattered across the courts. A few standouts jump off the page.
Women’s singles
- 11:30 a.m. ET: Naomi Osaka vs. Kateřina Siniaková Osaka, back on one of her favorite stages, faces a tricky opponent with enough variety to disrupt anyone’s rhythm.
- 12:40 p.m. ET: Alex Eala vs. Oleksandra Oliynykova A chance for Eala to show how quickly she’s adapting to the brutal demands of main-draw Slam tennis.
- 7 p.m. ET: Coco Gauff vs. Paula Badosa Under the lights, on home soil, Gauff steps into a primetime slot that now feels made for her. Badosa brings the weight of experience and power to match; this one has the feel of a statement match.
Men’s singles
- 11 a.m. ET: Félix Auger-Aliassime vs. Karen Khachanov Two big hitters, one narrow path to week two. The margins will be slim.
- 1 p.m. ET: Taylor Fritz vs. Mattia Bellucci Fritz, one of the American standard-bearers, carries home expectations into a clash he’ll be favored to control.
- 7 p.m. ET: Learner Tien vs. Gael Monfils Youth against showmanship. Tien’s ambition meets Monfils’ enduring flair and crowd magnetism.
- 8:10 p.m. ET: Alexander Zverev vs. Quentin Halys The top seed in the men’s draw, Zverev, continues his campaign against a dangerous shot-maker in Halys. If Zverev wants to underline his status as favorite in Sinner’s absence, nights like this are non-negotiable.
Mixed doubles and qualifying matches fill out the day, turning the complex in Queens into a constant hum of serves, roars, and footsteps on hard court.
The Shape of the 2026 US Open
The US Open stretches across three packed weeks, from Sunday, August 23, to Sunday, September 13, all at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center in Queens, New York.
The calendar is layered:
- Qualifying events: August 24–27
- Men’s and women’s singles main draws: 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
The business end of the tournament arrives in the final days:
- 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 played in 1881, the US Open is the second-oldest of the Grand Slams, sitting just behind Wimbledon in history but matching any tournament in noise, energy, and late-night drama.
Who’s Chasing the Title?
This year’s field is loaded with proven winners. Seventeen former Grand Slam singles champions are in the draw, ten of them past US Open winners. That’s a lot of experience, a lot of scars, and a lot of belief scattered across the locker rooms.
On the men’s side, the picture shifted when Jannik Sinner was ruled out through injury. His absence reshaped the seeding and nudged others into the spotlight.
- Alexander Zverev arrives as the No. 1 seed.
- Carlos Alcaraz sits at No. 2, still one of the game’s most explosive forces.
- Felix Auger-Aliassime rounds out the top three.
In the women’s draw, the top tier is equally fierce:
- Aryna Sabalenka leads the field as No. 1.
- Elena Rybakina stands at No. 2, bringing her own brand of baseline power.
- Jessica Pegula, the American No. 3 seed, anchors a deep home contingent.
The United States sends 28 players into the main draw, more than any other nation. Alongside Pegula, the home hopes rest with the likes of Coco Gauff, Amanda Anisimova, Ben Shelton, Taylor Fritz, and the evergreen presence of Venus Williams.
They know what this tournament can do for a career. One hot run in New York can define a season, or an era.
The courts are ready, the lights are set, and the draw is tightening. Now it’s up to the players — and to you to decide how, and where, you’ll watch it all unfold.
