The 2024 US Open concludes its championship run on September 13 at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center. While domestic audiences have access via ABC and ESPN,international viewers are increasingly leveraging VPNs to find free streaming alternatives.
The 2024 Bracket Chaos: 38 Seeds Eliminated Early
The current tournament has been defined by an extraordinary level of volatility. According to the report from Gizmodo, the main draw at Flushing Meadows has seen a massive collapse of favorites, with 20 of the 32 men's seeds and 18 of the 32 women's seeds exiting before the round of sixteen even began.
This level of unpredictability echoes a broader trend in professional tennis where the gap between top-tier seeds and emerging challengers is narrowing. The early exit of Novak Djokovic in the first round serves as a primary example of this shift ,creating a wide-open path for players like Ben Shelton, who advanced to the semifinals after a grueling five-set victory over Carlos Alcaraz.
Using 9Now and VPNs to Bypass US Geo-locks
For those without an ESPN Unlimited subscription, the most viable workaround is accessing Australia's free-to-air coverage. As Gizmodo reported, Channel Nine broadcasts selected matches for free, which are then streamed via the 9Now platform. Because 9Now requires an Australian IP address, viewers are using VPNs to spoof their location.
The technical reliability of these streams often depends on the provider's infrastructure. For instance, NordVPN utilizes the NordLynx protocol and a network of over 1,900 servers in the United States to minimize the buffering and lag that typically plague live sports streaming. This allows users to access geo-locked content on the ESPN App as if they were physically located within the US.
Gauff, Zverev, and the Road to September 13
The final stretch of the tournament features a high-stakes lineup including Coco Gauff, Aryna Sabalenka, and top seed Alexander Zverev. The schedule is tightly packed, with the women's semifinals occurring Thursday, followed by the women's final on Friday or Saturday, and the men's championship match closing the event on Sunday, September 13.
Domestic coverage remains fragmented across three ESPN networks and a single ABC broadcast slot.. While primetime action typically begins at 7 p.m. ET on ESPN, the men's final on September 13 will be available on both ABC and ESPN Deportes for Spanish-language viewers, providing a rare over-the-air option for those with a traditional antenna.
The Stability of the $14.99 Sling TV Pass and Free Trials
For viewers who prefer a legitimate US-based stream without a long-term contract, a $14.99 week pass from Sling TV offers a low-cost entry point to ESPN. Alternatively, services like Fubo, YouTube TV, and Hulu + Live TV provide free trials lasting five to seven days, which are sufficient to cover the remaining rounds of the US Open.
However, several critical details remain unverified in the current reporting. It is unclear whether 9Now's free access extends to every single match of the final or only "selected" highlights, and the source does not address the legal terms of service regarding VPN usage for these specific platforms. Furthermore, while the report highlights the speed of NordVPN, it does not provide a direct performance comparison against ExpressVPN or Surfshark for the specific latency requirements of live tennis.
Comments 0