How to Watch the Australian Open Online for Free From Anywhere in 2024
The 2024 Australian Open is here and there are plenty of ways for tennis fans to watch it online, though it depends on where you're located. This guide discusses all of the places you can watch the tournament online and how to watch Australian Open matches for free from anywhere.
Written by Samson Kiarie (Writer) & Sandra Pattison (Writer, Editor)
Reviewed by Jackie Leavitt (Co-Chief Editor) & Aleksandar Kochovski (Writer)
Facts checked by Jasna Mishevska (Lead Fact-Checking Editor)
Last Updated: 2024-10-15T00:06:56+00:00
All our content is written fully by humans; we do not publish AI writing. Learn more here.
Key Takeaways: Watch the Australian Open
- Go to NordVPN’s website and sign up at a 73% discount.
- Download and install the VPN client. Connect to a U.S. server.
- Log in to Channel 9 and enjoy the Australian Open.
Best VPNs for Streaming Australian Open:
- NordVPN — Comprehensive security suite in one powerful VPN. NordVPN offers 73% off on the first two years for new users.
- Surfshark — Best VPN with unlimited simultaneous connections. Sign up now to get 86% off the first two years.
- ExpressVPN — High-end VPN that welcomes beginners.. Explore ExpressVPN’s features with a 30-day return policy, and grab extended plans at a 49% discount.
Facts & Expert Analysis:
- In the U.S., you can watch the Australian Open online via a live TV streaming service, such as fuboTV, or with ESPN+.
- It’s available to watch for free on Australia’s 9Now network, as well as Austria’s Servus TV.
- If you’re not in either of those countries, you can connect to a VPN server and access it. We recommend using NordVPN , though Surfshark is also a good option.
This weekend we’ll see the first of 2024’s Grand Slam tournaments, with the Australian Open officially starting Sunday, Jan. 14. Fans head to Melbourne Park to see some big names take to the courts, including Novak Djokovic and Aryna Sabalenka as they seek to defend their titles. If you want to watch all the action online, this guide shares how to watch Australian Open matches from anywhere.
We’ll go over the Australian Open TV schedule, where you can watch the matches in the U.S. and abroad, and how to watch the Australian Open for free. However, if you regularly stream live sports or other content online, you’ll likely already be familiar with regional blocks. If not, they basically prevent viewers from accessing certain content and streaming services that aren’t available in their region.
Using a VPN (virtual private network) helps to bypass such blocks, and we’ve provided a complete how-to guide using the best VPN, NordVPN. Keep reading to learn everything you need to know.
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01/14/2024
We updated the information in this article for the 2024 Australian Open.
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10/01/2024
We adjusted the provider rankings to account for recent changes in the VPN landscape.
When Will the Australian Open 2024 Start?
The qualifying rounds for those not automatically included in the Australian Open main draw ran from Monday, Jan. 8 through Thursday, Jan. 11. The official start date for the Australian Open main draw is Sunday, Jan. 14.
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The first, second, third and fourth round matches take us up to Monday, Jan. 22, with the quarter-finals and semi-finals taking us up through Friday, Jan. 26. Both men’s and women’s singles and doubles finals will be held over the last two days, with the tournament concluding Jan. 28.
Australian Open 2024 Schedule
Here are all the match dates for the 2024 Australian Open main draw, starting Jan. 14. This year marks the first time the tournament will start on a Sunday. The extra Sunday means it will run for a full two weeks.
- Sunday, Jan. 14: Men’s and women’s first round singles matches
- Monday, Jan. 15: Men’s and women’s first round singles matches
- Tuesday, Jan. 16: Men’s and women’s first round singles matches
- Wednesday, Jan. 17: Men’s and women’s second round singles matches
- Thursday, Jan. 18: Men’s and women’s second round singles matches
- Friday, Jan. 19: Men’s and women’s third round singles matches
- Saturday, Jan. 20: Men’s and women’s third round singles matches
- Sunday, Jan. 21: Men’s and women’s fourth round singles matches
- Monday, Jan. 22: Men’s and women’s fourth round singles matches
- Tuesday, Jan. 23: Men’s and women’s singles quarter-final matches
- Wednesday, Jan. 24: Men’s and women’s singles quarter-final matches
- Thursday, Jan. 24: Men’s and women’s singles quarter-final matches
- Thursday, Jan. 25: Women’s singles semi-final matches
- Friday, Jan. 26: Men’s singles semi-final matches
- Saturday, Jan 27: Women’s singles final & men’s doubles final
- Sunday, Jan. 28: Men’s singles final & women’s doubles final
How to Watch the Australian Open Without Cable in the U.S.?
If you’re in the U.S., you have plenty of options for watching the Australian Open online without cable. Plenty of live TV streaming services carry the cable channels that will air the Australian Open, meaning you can subscribe to one of those and get access at home or on the go.
For instance, the ESPN channels will provide live coverage of the Australian Open in the U.S., and many live streaming services include at least one of these channels.
You will also find the Tennis Channel is included with some, which will broadcast daily highlights and replays of the tournament. Alternatively, you can subscribe to ESPN+, which will provide a live stream of every match.
What you do need to remember is that Melbourne, where the tournament is held, is 16 hours ahead of the East Coast of the USA. So, depending on where you’re based, prepare for some late nights and mid-slumber streaming if you want to watch live. Let’s go over the best options for watching the Australian Open without cable.
ESPN+
ESPN+ is ESPN’s standalone streaming service. This provides a direct place to watch every Australian Open match there is live. The ESPN app is available for many devices too, meaning you can watch in the comfort of your own home or on the go. If you are unable to watch a match live (perhaps because you’re sleeping), ESPN+ also provides access to on-demand replays.
An ESPN+ subscription costs $10.99 per month or $109.99 per year. Alternatively, you can get the Disney Plus-Hulu-ESPN+ bundle for $14.99 per month.
Fubo
FuboTV is a live TV streaming service that focuses on providing sports channels in its packages. Its three main packages, which start at $79.99 per month, all include ESPN and ESPN2. However, you’ll need the Elite or Premier plan if you want the Tennis Channel. These packages also include 1,000 hours of cloud storage, which is handy if you can’t watch the matches live.
Alternatively, you can opt for the Latino package if you want ESPN Deportes. This costs $32.99 per month and includes 250 hours of cloud storage. All fuboTV packages come with a seven-day free trial, too.
Hulu + Live TV
Hulu + Live TV is Hulu’s answer to cutting the cord. It includes Hulu’s on-demand streaming service and a bundle of live TV channels, including ESPN and ESPN2.
Plus, Hulu + Live TV is bundled with Disney Plus and ESPN+, so you’re getting a two-in-one Australian Open streaming solution. Hulu + Live TV starts at $76.99 per month and also comes with unlimited cloud DVR.
Sling TV
Sling TV is split between two packages — Orange and Blue — depending on your channel preferences. That said, you’ll need the Orange plan to watch the Australian Open, since it includes the ESPN channels.
To be exact, you get ESPN, ESPN2 and ESPN3 — it’s the only service on this list to include ESPN3. Plans cost $40 each per month, though your first month is at half price and you get 50 hours of cloud DVR.
How to Watch the Australian Open Overseas?
Outside of the U.S., there are plenty of other options for watching the Australian Open — you’ll just need to use a VPN to watch the matches. We’ve provided a table below with some of the most popular options abroad, including the best way to watch the Australian Open online for free — Australia’s 9Now network.
| Streaming Service | Country | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 9Now, Channel 9 | Australia | Free |
| Servus TV | Austria | Free |
| Stan Sport | Australia | AU$10+ per month |
| Eurosport/Discovery+ | UK / Europe | Seven-day free trial; Starting at £4.99 per month. Or add Discovery+ to Amazon Prime subscription. |
| TSN+ | Canada | CA$8 per month. |
| SonyLiv | India | Starting at 299 rupes (<$4) per month. Includes English commentary. |
| BeIN Sports | Middle East, North Africa (MENA) and some Asia-Pacific (APAC) markets | Starting at $14.99 (price is dependent on the country) |
How to Watch the Australian Open Online for Free
We have a solution for you if you don’t want to spend on the subscriptions we mentioned above. The matches are available to stream live for free on Channel 9, but this channel is available only to Australian residents. You can also watch it for free on Austrian channel Servus TV.
Thankfully, with a virtual private network, you can circumvent Channel 9 or Servus TV restrictions and watch the games from anywhere.
Why Use a VPN to Watch the Australian Open Online?
Because of licensing restrictions, the Australian Open, like other Grand Slam tennis tournaments, is available for streaming in select countries, such as Australia, the U.K., Canada and the U.S.
The streaming services with licensing rights check users’ IP addresses to decide whether they are within their allowed distribution region. For example, if you try to access Channel 9 outside Australia, you’ll get the error message “access is not available in your area.”
A VPN assigns you a unique IP address based on the VPN server location you connect to, which can make you appear to be in a different country than your current country of residence. For example, when you connect to a VPN server in Australia, it assigns you an Australian IP address, enabling you to access Channel 9 without restrictions.
If you’re a tennis fan from the U.K., U.S. and other countries with broadcast rights, you’ll lose access to local streaming services such as Eurosport and ESPN when you travel abroad. With a VPN, you only need to connect to a server in your home country to access local streaming services.
How to Watch the Australian Open Online for Free With a VPN
In this section, we’ll show you how to access Channel 9 using NordVPN — the best VPN for Australian Open matches. If you want a completely free experience, you can trial NordVPN using its 30-day money-back guarantee.
- Sign Up for the Best VPN for Streaming
Start by visiting NordVPN’s website and selecting a plan with a 73% discount, backed by a 30-day money-back guarantee for peace of mind.
- Download and Install the VPN app
Download and install the VPN on your streaming devices. If you are watching the Australian Open matches on your smartphone, install the app from Apple’s app store or Google Play store.
- Connect to an Australian Server
Complete the setup process and connect to a server in Australia.
- Access the Streaming Service
Do a DNS leak test to confirm that you got the preferred IP address. Open Channel 9 and create an account (you’ll need an Australian address to sign up: any hotel address in Australia will do). Watch the Australian Open matches without limitation.
If you’re using a VPN’s 30-day money-back guarantee as a free trial, make sure to cancel within 30 days to get your refund.
Best VPN for Watching the Australian Open Live Stream
We’ve already mentioned NordVPN as one of the best VPNs to watch the Australian Open live. In this section, we’ll delve into what makes it the best VPN for streaming the Australian Open.
1. NordVPN— Best VPN for the Australian Open
services for live sports, including the Australian Open.
Very Fast
Very Fast
Very Fast
NordVPN is our top pick for streaming live sports. For the Australian Open specifically, NordVPN offers a large pool of Australian IP addresses with more than 190 servers in Adelaide, Brisbane, Melbourne, Perth and Sydney.
Even if a server struggles to access a streaming service, such as BBC iPlayer, you can switch between servers to find one that works with the tennis streaming channels. We didn’t have to change servers when accessing Channel 9, though we never tested other tennis streaming channels.
Even better, we enjoyed a lag-free, HD streaming performance thanks to NordVPN’s consistently high international download speeds. Remember: NordVPN is currently the fastest VPN. Whether you’re connecting to an Australian server from Asia or North America, the streams are so smooth that you won’t even notice the VPN is on.
NordVPN is even cheaper than ExpressVPN on extended plans. The monthly plan costs $12.99, which is still on the higher side of the pricing spectrum. The one-year plan goes for $4.99 per month and the two-year plan costs $3.09 per month. You can also try NordVPN with its 30-day money-back guarantee. Read our NordVPN review to learn more.
- *The prices are charged in the first billing cycle only. Renewal prices vary.
- Unlimited GB
- 10
- Yes
- *The prices are charged in the first billing cycle only. Renewal prices vary.
- Unlimited GB
- 10
- Yes
- *The prices are charged in the first billing cycle only. Renewal prices vary.
- Unlimited GB
- 10
- Yes
2. Surfshark— Cheapest VPN for Streaming Sports
bet for friends who want to split the bills.
Very Fast
Very Fast
Good
Surfshark is owned by the same company as NordVPN, but it doesn’t rival NordVPN’s server fleet. However, with 20 Australian servers in Sydney, Brisbane, Perth, Adelaide and Melbourne, it should be easy to cloak your actual IP address to access Channel 9 from anywhere.
During our testing, it found a way around Channel 9 geoblocks without a struggle. If you want to unblock other streaming options such as ESPN, Discovery Plus or Eurosport, Sufshark will find a way on the first attempt. Plus, with its fast download speeds, you’ll enjoy lag- and buffer-free HD streaming.
Surfshark’s unlimited simultaneous connections make it a great pick for large families who want to split the bill. You need a single subscription to protect all devices at home. Because it offers unlimited data and bandwidth, speed won’t dip if everyone in the household is streaming Australian Open on their device.
Surfshark is the cheapest of the three VPNs on our list. The monthly plan is still pricey at $15.45, but long-term plans offer significant discounts. The one-year plan sets you back $2.99 per month and the two-year plan costs $1.99 per month. It also has a 30-day money-back guarantee you can use. Read our comprehensive Surfshark review to learn more.
- Unlimited GB bandwidth, Unlimited devices, Secure VPN, Ad blocker, Cookie pop-up blocker. Plans renew: $59.76 for one year, $59.76 per year for the two-year plan.
- Unlimited GB
- Unlimited
- Yes
- Everything in Starter, plus Antivirus protection, Identity protection, Email Breach and Credit Card Alerts, Online Alias Plans renew: $79 for one year & $79 per year for the two-year plan.
- Unlimited GB
- Unlimited
- Everything in One, plus Data removal Plans renew: $269.25 for one year, $404.65 for two years
- Unlimited GB
- Unlimited
3. ExpressVPN– Best Easy to Use Sports VPN
ExpressVPN has servers in five Australian locations: Melbourne, Sydney, Perth, Adelaide and Brisbane. The fleet of servers gives you a large pool of IP addresses to access streaming channels in Australia.
What sets ExpressVPN apart is its excellent unblocking ability. During our testing, ExpressVPN accessed Channel 9 without a hitch and enabled us to watch the qualifying matches without interruption, thanks to its fast speeds. If that performance is anything to go by, you should enjoy flawless streaming with Discovery Plus, Eurosport and ESPN.
The only quibble is that ExpressVPN is pricey. The monthly plan costs $12.95, but you can bring the price down to $6.66 per month when you subscribe to the one-year plan. However, you can also try it with the 30-day money-back guarantee. Learn more in our ExpressVPN review.
- Unlimited GB
- 8
- Yes
Can I Use a Free VPN to Stream the Australian Open?
Yes, you can use a free VPN to watch the Australian Open online, but only if you find one that offers fast speeds, unlimited data and servers in Australia. Sadly, you’ll struggle to find a free VPN that brings all these qualities to the table.
Lastly, TunnelBear has Australian servers, but it only offers 2GB of data per month, which will run out pretty quickly while streaming. You can find all the details in our fill guide on the best free Australian VPN.
If you want to watch the Australian Open free of charge, we recommend using the money-back guarantee of a premium VPN. That way you get all the features of the paid VPN, and you’ll get refunded no problem.
Final Thoughts
By now, you know how to watch the Australian Open online. Get a VPN in advance and set it up on your device so that you don’t miss the action as the world’s best tennis players put in the shift on the hardcourts of Melbourne Park.
Try NordVPN for a month completely risk-free, as you can use the 30-day money-back guarantee if you end up not liking it.
Who do you think will lift the Australian Open title? Have you used a VPN to stream a grand slam tennis tournament? Which VPN service did you use? Would you recommend that VPN service, and why? We’d love to hear about it in the comment section. As always, thanks for reading.
FAQ: 2024 Australian Open
The Australian Open is available on the ESPN channels in the U.S. If you don’t have cable, you can use a live TV streaming service to watch it or sign up for ESPN+. Alternatively, you can connect to a VPN server and watch it for free on Australia’s 9Now network.
The 2023 champions, Novak Djokovic and Aryna Sabalenka, are in the line-up to defend their title. We’ll also see Carlos Alcaraz, Jannik Sinner, Daniil Medvedev, Coco Gauff, Elena Rybakina and women’s number one Iga Swiatek. We won’t, however, see Rafael Nadal in this tournament due to him recovering from a hip injury. Naomi Osaka and Emma Raducanu will return after some time out.
If you’re traveling or in a country that doesn’t air the Australian Open, you can connect to a VPN server in another country to watch it. This will fool the service into thinking you’re actually in the country. For instance, you can connect to an Australian VPN server and watch the tournament for free on the 9Now network online.