2026 US Open: How to Watch Key Matches and Streaming Options
The US Open has hit its first real stride. Round one is in the books, the nerves have settled, and Day 5 brings the kind of schedule that defines a Grand Slam fortnight: big names, tight turnarounds, and no place to hide in Queens.
At the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center, the second round is where serious contenders begin to separate from the pack. Alexander Zverev, Coco Gauff, Naomi Osaka, Taylor Fritz — they’re all on court today. The tournament is stretching into its long August-September run, and every session now feels loaded.
How to Watch the 2026 US Open
In the United States, ESPN remains the command center for the US Open. The network holds exclusive broadcast rights, with matches spread across ESPN’s family of channels and, at times, ABC and the ESPN app. Anyone who has walked away from traditional cable will need a live TV streaming package that includes those outlets or a direct subscription to ESPN’s own streaming service.
Several major platforms carry the necessary channels:
- DirecTV’s base package starts at $59.99 for the first month and includes ABC and ESPN+.
- ESPN’s standalone streaming option, ESPN Unlimited, begins at $29.99 per month, with live sports and archived programming.
- Fubo’s Sports plan, at $65.99 per month, includes ABC, ESPN, and ESPN 2, with a quarterly billing option available.
- Sling’s Essentials plan offers ESPN and ESPN 2 for $19.99 per month, or fans can opt for a Sling TV Day Pass at $4.99 to drop in for a single day of play.
- YouTube TV’s Sports Plan delivers ABC, ESPN, and ESPN 2 for $64.99 per month.
For viewers in the US without an existing subscription, free trials from DirecTV, FuboTV, or YouTube TV can open the door to the Open without an immediate bill.
Watching for Free – and Watching from Abroad
The most intriguing option sits thousands of miles away. In Australia, 9Now is streaming the 2026 US Open for free, turning the tournament into a no-cost spectacle for local fans.
Those outside Australia — in the US, UK, or elsewhere — can attempt to tap into that coverage by using a virtual private network. A VPN lets users connect to a server in another country and access geo-restricted content as if they were there. ExpressVPN, with a broad spread of global servers, is one such service often used for location spoofing.
The process is straightforward:
- Subscribe to a streaming-friendly VPN such as ExpressVPN.
- Download the VPN app to your chosen device.
- Connect to an Australian server.
- Head to 9Now and start streaming the US Open feed.
Most of the top VPN services are paid products, but many offer free trials to first-time users. With a bit of timing, that can mean watching the Open without paying for either a streaming platform or the VPN itself.
Once the stream is up, one small but telling detail can sharpen the viewing experience: enabling motion smoothing on the TV to make live sport look cleaner and more fluid. The catch is simple — remember to turn it off afterward to avoid that unwanted “soap opera” sheen on films and series.
Today’s Key Matches – September 2
Play begins at 11 a.m. ET, and the schedule quickly heats up.
On the women’s side, round two brings a blend of star power and rising talent:
- 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 continues her push to re-establish herself at the top of the sport, while Gauff, the American standard-bearer, steps into a primetime slot against the dangerous Paula Badosa.
The men’s draw is no lighter:
- 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
Zverev, the top seed in the absence of Jannik Sinner, anchors the night session. Fritz, the leading American man, occupies the afternoon, while Gael Monfils brings his usual flair under the lights.
The Shape of the 2026 Tournament
The US Open now stretches across three weeks, turning late August and early September into a sustained tennis marathon. This year’s event runs from Sunday, August 23, to Sunday, September 13, all staged at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center in Queens, New York.
The structure is packed and precise:
- 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 closing weekend follows a familiar crescendo. The Women’s Doubles Final lands on Friday, September 11. Saturday, September 12, brings the Women’s Singles Final and the Men’s Doubles Final. The Men’s Singles Final, as always, crowns the fortnight on Sunday, September 13.
It’s a modern schedule for a tournament with deep roots. First contested in 1881, the US Open is the second-oldest Grand Slam event, trailing only Wimbledon.
Who’s in the Field?
The 2026 US Open field is heavy with pedigree: 17 former Grand Slam singles champions, 10 of them past US Open winners. The men’s draw lost one of its marquee names before a ball was struck, with Jannik Sinner ruled out through injury. That absence nudges Alexander Zverev into the role of top seed, with Carlos Alcaraz and Félix Auger-Aliassime slotting in behind him as the second and third seeds.
On the women’s side, Aryna Sabalenka leads the rankings as the No. 1 seed, with Elena Rybakina at No. 2 and American Jessica Pegula at No. 3. It’s a top-heavy group with serious hard-court credentials.
The host nation dominates the numbers. The United States sends 28 players into the main draw, the most of any country. Beyond Pegula and Gauff, the American contingent features Amanda Anisimova, Ben Shelton, Taylor Fritz, and the enduring presence of Venus Williams.
The stage is set: a deep field, a long schedule, and a home nation stacked with contenders. Now it’s up to the players to decide whether this US Open becomes a coronation for the seeds at the top, or another New York fortnight that tears up the script.
