The US Open is one of the biggest events on the sporting calendar, and every year millions of fans search for the simplest way to watch it live online. The challenge is that streaming options shift from year to year, rights deals change, and the phrase "US Open" can refer to two different tournaments depending on who you ask. This guide breaks down how to stream the US Open tennis championships legally, what it costs, which devices work best, and what to do if you are actually looking for the golf tournament of the same name.
A Quick Answer First
If you are in the United States and want to watch the US Open tennis live stream, ESPN is your destination. ESPN holds the exclusive American broadcast rights to the tournament, which means every match airs on an ESPN platform. You have three main routes:
- Subscribe to ESPN+, the network's standalone streaming service.
- Use a live TV streaming service that includes ESPN in its channel lineup.
- Stream through the ESPN app or ESPN.com if you already have a cable, satellite, or live TV subscription that carries ESPN.
Each option suits a different type of viewer, so it helps to understand how they differ before the tournament begins.
Streaming the US Open on ESPN+
ESPN+ is the most direct option for cord-cutters. It is a standalone subscription service that does not require a traditional cable package, and during the US Open it carries extensive live match coverage across multiple courts simultaneously. This is a real advantage in the early rounds, when matches run on many courts at once and a traditional TV broadcast can only show one or two at a time.
ESPN+ also offers replays, so if a night session runs past your bedtime or a daytime match conflicts with work, you can catch up later. Combined coverage across ESPN, ESPN2, ABC, and ESPN+ means the tournament is available from the first serve of the qualifying rounds through the men's and women's finals.
Pricing for ESPN+ changes periodically, so check the current rate before subscribing. Some bundles that combine ESPN+ with Disney+ and Hulu are available and may offer better value if you already use those services.
Live TV Streaming Services That Carry ESPN
If you want the full traditional broadcast experience, including the marquee matches on ESPN's main channels, a live TV streaming service is the way to go. Several major platforms include ESPN in their base packages:
- YouTube TV
- Hulu + Live TV
- Fubo
- Sling TV (the plan that includes ESPN)
- DirecTV Stream
These services stream live over the internet and work on virtually every modern device. They also include cloud DVR, which is genuinely useful during a two-week tournament where sessions run from late morning until well past midnight in the US.
Pricing and channel lineups vary, and promotional deals change frequently, so compare current offers before committing. Some services offer free trial periods for new customers, which can align nicely with the tournament window if you time it right. Note that ESPN+ coverage and the main ESPN channels are separate things: ESPN+ is included with some live TV bundles but not all, so read the plan details carefully.
Using the ESPN App with an Existing Subscription
If you already pay for a TV package that includes ESPN, you may not need to spend anything extra. Download the ESPN app or visit ESPN.com, sign in with your TV provider credentials, and you can stream every channel in the ESPN family live, including full US Open coverage. This works with traditional cable and satellite providers as well as the live TV streaming services listed above.
The ESPN app is available on Roku, Amazon Fire TV, Apple TV, Chromecast, most smart TV platforms, iOS and Android devices, and web browsers. If you have never used the app before, sign in and test it a day or two before the tournament starts so you are not troubleshooting during the first round.
Watching on Different Devices
One of the quiet benefits of the current US Open streaming setup is flexibility. You can start a match on your phone during a commute, pick it up on a tablet at home, and finish it on your living room TV. All the major platforms handle this well:
- Smart TVs (Samsung, LG, Vizio, and others with ESPN or live TV apps)
- Streaming sticks and boxes (Roku, Fire TV, Apple TV, Chromecast)
- Mobile phones and tablets
- Gaming consoles
- Laptop and desktop browsers
For picture quality, a stable connection matters more than raw speed for most households. As a general rule, plan on at least 5 Mbps for reliable HD streaming, and more if several people in your home will be streaming at the same time. If your stream stutters during night sessions, when network traffic peaks, connecting your device directly to the router with an ethernet cable often solves it.
Free and Low-Cost Ways to Follow the Action
Full live streaming of the US Open in the US requires a paid subscription, but you do have some free options for staying close to the tournament:
- The official US Open website and app provide free live scores, draws, schedules, news, and video highlights.
- ESPN and the tournament publish free highlight packages and press conference clips online during the event.
- Live TV streaming services sometimes offer free trials, letting you watch a stretch of the tournament at no cost.
If you only care about one player or one big match, checking scores for free and then catching the highlights afterward can be a reasonable strategy. If you want wall-to-wall coverage, a subscription is the practical route.
Watching the US Open Outside the United States
Broadcast rights for the US Open differ by country, so the right streaming service depends on where you live. A few examples of how rights are typically organized:
- United Kingdom: Coverage has aired on Warner Bros. Discovery platforms, including Eurosport in past years and more recently TNT Sports and discovery+.
- Canada: TSN and RDS have traditionally carried the tournament.
- Other markets: Most countries have a dedicated rights holder, often a major sports network or streaming platform.
The simplest approach is to visit the official US Open website, which lists international broadcast partners, or search for "US Open broadcast rights" along with your country. Avoid relying on outdated information from previous years, because deals do change.
One important note: streaming services restrict their content to the regions where they hold rights, and using tools to circumvent those restrictions typically violates the service's terms of use. The safest and most reliable experience is always the licensed broadcaster in your own region, both legally and technically, since official streams are far less likely to buffer or drop out mid-match.
A Word on Unofficial Streams
Every major sporting event attracts a wave of unauthorized streams, and the US Open is no exception. These sites are worth avoiding for several reasons. They routinely host intrusive ads and malware, the video quality is poor and unreliable, streams frequently die during crucial points, and watching them may expose you to legal risk depending on where you live. Given that legitimate options start at the price of a single monthly subscription, the official route is cheaper than it looks once you factor in the hassle and risk of the alternatives.
If You Are Looking for the Golf US Open
The keyword confusion is understandable: there is a second US Open, the golf championship run by the USGA, held each June. If golf is what you are after, the streaming picture is different.
In the United States, golf's US Open airs on NBC, Golf Channel, and USA Network, with streaming coverage available through Peacock, NBC's streaming service. You can also stream through any live TV service that carries those channels, such as YouTube TV, Hulu + Live TV, Fubo, Sling TV, or DirecTV Stream. The official USGA website and app typically offer featured coverage of specific groups and holes during the round, which is a nice complement to the main broadcast.
If you are outside the US, check with local golf broadcasters, as rights vary by region in the same way they do for tennis.
Planning Your Tournament Viewing
The US Open tennis championships run for about two weeks in late August and early September, with day sessions starting around late morning in New York and night sessions stretching past midnight. A few practical tips can make the experience smoother:
- Download the official US Open app for live scores and an easy-to-read schedule.
- Note when the players you want to watch are scheduled, since marquee matches are placed on the main show courts and get the widest broadcast coverage.
- Set your DVR if your live TV service offers one, because overlapping matches mean you cannot watch everything live.
- Consider subscribing a few days early to test your setup and explore the multi-court viewing options.
Choosing the Right Option for You
The best US Open live stream setup depends on what you already have. If you keep a cable or live TV subscription, the ESPN app costs you nothing extra. If you are a dedicated cord-cutter who only wants tennis, ESPN+ alone will carry you through the fortnight. If you want main-channel coverage plus a broader TV package, a live TV streaming service with ESPN makes sense. And if you are watching from abroad, your local rights holder is the place to start. Whichever route you choose, sorting it out before the first round begins means you can spend the tournament watching tennis instead of troubleshooting apps.