2026 Australian Open: How to Watch Sinner, Alcaraz, and Djokovic for Free
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The 2026 Australian Open offers tennis fans a compelling mix of established champions and rising stars, and remarkably, access to live coverage doesn’t require a costly subscription. Several foreign channels are broadcasting matches unencrypted,offering a legal pathway to watch all the action,including favorites Jannik Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz,right up to the final.
The tournament, the opening Grand slam of the season, begins this Sunday, January 18, at Melbourne Park and culminates with the men’s final on February 1. With a record prize pool of €64 million, the stakes are high as players vie for glory and a winner’s share of €2.38 million.
Free Streaming Options: A Global View
Tennis enthusiasts can tune into the Australian Open via several international channels. RTS Sport and RTS 2 provide live coverage in French, while Channel 9 in Australia broadcasts all matches through the final.However, accessing these channels often presents a hurdle: geo-blocking.
Fortunately, a simple solution exists.By utilizing a virtual Private Network (VPN),viewers can simulate a location within a country where the broadcast is freely available. This allows access to channels like RTS Sport, RTS 2, RTL Club, RTBF, and Channel 9, offering a legal choice to frequently enough unreliable and potentially harmful illegal streaming sites.
Key Players to Watch in melbourne
The 2026 Australian Open draw has set the stage for thrilling matchups. jannik Sinner, the reigning champion, aims for a historic third consecutive title, while Carlos Alcaraz, the world number one, seeks his first Melbourne crown. The two have shared the last eight Grand Slam titles, dominating the sport for the past two years.
Though, the path to the final won’t be easy. Potential challenges for Sinner and Alcaraz include Stefanos Tsitsipas, João Fonseca, Corentin Moutet, Alexander Bublik, Ben Shelton, Félix Auger-Aliassime, Alex De Minaur, and Lorenzo Musetti. In the later stages, Alexander Zverev and a potentially resurgent Novak djokovic loom as formidable opponents.
Djokovic’s Fitness Concerns and Other Contenders
The fitness of Novak Djokovic, a ten-time Australian Open champion, is under scrutiny after he cut short a training session due to neck pain. At 37, his physical condition is a question mark, despite his fourth-seed ranking. Alex De Minaur will carry the hopes of the Australian crowd.
on the women’s side, Aryna Sabalenka is the clear favorite, aiming for her third title in four years. Iga Swiatek seeks to complete her Grand Slam collection, while coco Gauff, the recent Roland-Garros champion, is also a strong contender.
A Season Defined by Sinner-Alcaraz Rivalry
The 2026 Australian Open marks the beginning of a season expected to be dominated by the rivalry between sinner and Alcaraz. Alcaraz holds a psychological edge, having won seven of their last nine encounters, including the 2025 US Open final. However, Sinner’s mastery of Australian conditions and his consecutive titles in Melbourne make him a formidable opponent. As one tennis legend noted, the warm Melbourne weather could favor Alcaraz in his pursuit of a first Australian title. The tournament begins this Sunday at 1 a.m. French time, promising two weeks of captivating tennis action.
