The 2026 US Open continues its second-round matches at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center in Queens, New York, running through September 13. Top seeds Alexander Zverev and Aryna Sabalenka lead a men’s and women’s draw while viewers utilize free trials and international streams to watch live coverage.
Streaming the 2026 US Open Without Cable
Tennis fans attempting to follow the event in Queens without a traditional cable package face a familiar digital landscape. ESPN serves as the exclusive home for the tournament, though matches are also distributed across ABC and the ESPN app depending on the daily schedule.
Viewers can access broadcasts through several live TV streaming platforms. DirecTV’s base package costs $59.99 for the first month and includes ABC and ESPN+ coverage. For dedicated sports fans, Fubo carries ABC, ESPN, and ESPN 2 in its Sports plan for $65.99 per month, while Sling TV’s Essentials plan offers ESPN and ESPN 2 at $19.99 per month alongside a $4.99 day pass option. YouTube TV includes the necessary sports channels in its $64.99 per month Sports Plan. ESPN Unlimited offers live sports and archived ESPN shows starting at $29.99 per month.
Audience members looking for free viewing options can utilize promotional trials from providers like DirecTV, which offers a five-day free trial starting at $49.99 per month for its digital tiers. International viewers or those utilizing virtual private networks can access the tournament via 9Now’s free Australian stream, while ExpressVPN serves as a recommended pick for location spoofing.
US Open Round Two Livestream
Top Seeds and Notable Absences in Queens
The tournament field at Flushing Meadows carries significant shifting momentum due to high-profile injuries at the top of the sport. Alexander Zverev enters as the men’s No. 1 seed following his triumph at the French Open earlier this summer. Former World No. 1 and defending champion Carlos Alcaraz has returned to the draw after missing both the French Open and Wimbledon with a wrist injury.
However, the men’s competition is missing current World No. 1 Jannik Sinner, who was ruled out due to a recurring knee injury. That leaves Zverev and other contenders navigating the bracket at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center in Queens, New York.
The women’s division features defending champion and current World No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka as the top seed. Sabalenka faces direct pressure at the summit of the rankings; Elena Rybakina can claim the World No. 1 ranking regardless of Sabalenka’s performance as long as Rybakina reaches the tournament semifinals, while Sabalenka could also keep her ranking by winning this year’s US Open provided she counts on Rybakina being eliminated before the semifinals.
Tournament Schedule and Daily Broadcast Windows
The three-week event runs from Sunday, August 23, to Sunday, September 13 at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center in Queens, New York. Following the initial qualifying events held from August 24 to August 27 for men’s and women’s singles competition as well as mixed doubles, the first round of singles officially began on August 30.
How to watch US Open 2026 for free
Daily broadcasts and court streams on ESPN’s streaming service begin daily from 11 a.m. ET. The ESPN app features a RedZone-style whip-around show daily beginning with the start of the tournament through September 4 from 11 a.m. ET to 6 p.m. PT to cover concurrent matches across the grounds.
Championship Weekend Timeline
As the second round progresses through early September, the tournament advances toward its final weekend.
Women’s Semifinals: Thursday, September 10 at 7 p.m. on ESPN
Women’s Doubles Championship: Friday, September 11 at 12 p.m. on ESPN2
Men’s Semifinals #1: Friday, September 11 at 3 p.m. on ESPN
Men’s Semifinals #2: Friday, September 11 at 7 p.m. on ESPN
Men’s Doubles Championship: Saturday, September 12 at 12 p.m. as an ESPN App exclusive
Women’s Championship: Saturday, September 12 at 4 p.m. on ESPN
Historical Context of the Final Grand Slam
The final major of the 2026 tennis season brings a lot of intrigue as it runs from August 30 through September 13. The event maintains its competitive weight even amid major player absences like Jannik Sinner while welcoming back former World No. 1 Carlos Alcaraz.
