The lights are up in Queens, the last Grand Slam of the season is in full swing, and the scramble for the US Open crown already feels ruthless.
Carlos Alcaraz walks back into Flushing Meadows with a target on his back and a question over his body. This is his first event since injury, yet he remains the man to beat. The defending champion opens his campaign as the bookmakers’ clear favorite, tipped at +120 on DraftKings at the start of the tournament.
The draw around him has shifted. Jannik Sinner, the rival many expected to shadow Alcaraz deep into the second week, is missing with injury. That leaves a chasing pack with very different weapons: Alexander Zverev’s heavy baseline game, Ben Shelton’s fearless power, Flavio Cobolli’s rising presence, and the hardened big-match experience of Daniil Medvedev. Each of them sees a window. Alcaraz sees a responsibility.
On the women’s side, Aryna Sabalenka is trying to hold off everyone. The defending champion is not only playing for the trophy; the world No. 1 ranking hangs in the balance. She starts the fortnight as the +290 favorite on DraftKings, but the pressure around her ranking is intense.
Elena Rybakina lurks with that flat, piercing serve. Coco Gauff carries the weight of home expectation and the momentum of a young star who now expects to be in the final weekend. Jessica Pegula brings reliability and experience, always there in the late rounds, always threatening to turn consistency into something bigger.
Then there is Iga Świątek. She cannot reclaim No. 1 here, not yet, but her form has snapped back into focus over the past month after a patchy season. The 2022 US Open champion is playing like a threat again, and the locker room knows it.
Names keep stacking up on the watch list. Alex Eala continues to grow into the big stage. Naomi Osaka, back under the spotlight in New York, remains one of the game’s most compelling figures. Venus Williams is out of the singles draw after a first-round exit, yet her story isn’t done: she links up with Serena Williams in women’s doubles, a partnership that still commands attention every time they step on court.
The schedule, as always in New York, is fluid. Start times are approximate, shifting with every tiebreak and marathon five-setter that drags the day into the night.
How to watch the US Open for free
For fans in Australia, 9Now is the simplest route to free live tennis. A quick account sign-up unlocks a selection of live matches from Flushing Meadows, with coverage leaning toward the biggest names and storylines.
In the United States, some of the tournament can be watched without paying up front by using free trials from live TV streaming platforms such as YouTube TV or Fubo. Those trials open the door to ABC, ESPN, and ESPN2, where much of the main-draw action sits.
Watching from anywhere
Supporters on the move, far from their usual broadcast region, are turning to VPNs to keep their viewing routine intact. A virtual private network can temporarily change the apparent location of a device, helping fans access the services they use at home and adding a layer of security along the way.
Among the options, Proton VPN stands out as one of the leading services. It offers an intuitive interface, a broad spread of global servers, and security-focused features that appeal to both tech-savvy users and newcomers.
US coverage: where to find every point
Inside the United States, ESPN, ESPN2, and ABC share broadcast duties, with every match that doesn’t make linear TV folded into ESPN+ as a streaming exclusive. Anyone wanting full coverage of the tournament gravitates toward ESPN Unlimited.
At $32 a month, ESPN Unlimited delivers live streams from the main ESPN channels, ESPN on ABC programming, and the full slate of ESPN+ content, including those tucked-away outer-court matches that define the early rounds.
Cable-style streaming platforms fill in the rest. Fubo and YouTube TV stand out among the current options, especially for viewers chasing a cable alternative that still carries the big sports channels and offers a free trial window.
Fubo’s Sports + News plan includes ABC, ESPN, and ESPN2 for $65 a month, with around 30 channels in total and a $10 discount on the first month after a free trial. Its Pro and Elite tiers cost more but push the channel count above 200, and all three plans bundle in ESPN Unlimited at no extra charge. That combination means subscribers can watch both the televised coverage and the ESPN+ exclusives under one roof.
YouTube TV also carries ABC, ESPN, and ESPN2 in its Main and Sports plans. The Main plan lists at $83 a month, but new customers can shave $15 off each of their first five months under a current promotion. The Sports plan, normally $65 a month, is discounted to $45 for the first six months for new users, who can also test the service with a free trial.
UK and Australia: where the Open lives
In the UK, the US Open belongs to Sky Sports. Fans can access coverage through a Sky TV package, with pricing shaped by contract details and add-ons. For those who prefer flexibility, Now offers streaming access to Sky Sports, including a one-day membership at £15 for viewers who only want to drop in for a key match or a decisive weekend.
Australian fans chasing every ball need Stan Sport. A full subscription runs to $30 a month, combining a $10 base Stan plan with a $20 Sport add-on. That unlocks all matches, all courts, live and on demand. For those content with a more selective offering, Channel Nine and 9Now provide free access to chosen matches, available to anyone who creates a free login.
History suggests that, as the tournament deepens, that free coverage becomes broader. Top seeds and home players have dominated the 2026 broadcast choices so far, a trend that usually intensifies as the stakes rise.
Where the odds point
At the start of the fortnight, the bookmakers made their stance clear. Carlos Alcaraz sits atop the men’s field as the favorite, while Aryna Sabalenka leads the women’s odds. Both already have a US Open title in their pockets. Both know how quickly things can unravel in New York.
The stage
The setting remains one of the sport’s great arenas: the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center in Flushing Meadows–Corona Park, Queens, New York. Hard courts, swirling winds, and a crowd that roars late into the night. Arthur Ashe Stadium looms over it all, the largest tennis arena in the world and the place where reputations are either made or shredded under the lights.
Early shocks
The tournament has already delivered its first seismic jolt. Novak Djokovic, a four-time US Open champion and one of the game’s enduring giants, is out. Mariano Navone dragged him into a brutal five-set first-round battle and finished the job, sending Djokovic home far earlier than anyone expected.
Alex de Minaur, Felix Auger-Aliassime, and Lorenzo Musetti have also fallen, clearing more space in a men’s draw that suddenly feels less predictable.
On the women’s side, the chaos has been muted so far. The major seeds have mostly held their ground, leaving the leading contenders firmly in place as the tournament begins to tighten.
One Slam, one city, one final chance this season to leave a mark on tennis history. Who will still be standing when the New York nights finally fall silent?
