Where Can I Watch Tennis on TV? Your Simple Guide to Catching the Biggest Matches

Trying to figure out where to watch tennis on TV can feel like a scavenger hunt, right? You just want to see Rafa crush it at Roland Garros or catch a wild night match from the US Open, but sometimes it feels like you need a detective badge to find the right channel. You're not alone—broadcast rights change all the time, and the best option depends on where you live and what you want to watch.

The good news? You actually have way more options than you think, from classic cable channels to easy streaming apps. You can watch the big tournaments live, catch up with replays, or even follow smaller ATP and WTA tournaments if you know where to look. And if you're worried about paying too much, there's a trick or two to save some cash and still enjoy the action, even if your favorite match is halfway around the world.

• Major Tennis Tournaments and When They're On
• Top Sports Channels for Watching Tennis
• Best Streaming Services for Live Matches
• Tips for Affordable and International Viewing

Major Tennis Tournaments and When They're On

If you want to catch the best tennis matches, it helps to know when the big tournaments happen. These events pull in the biggest names and usually get prime TV coverage. Here’s what you need to know about timing and what’s actually worth marking on your calendar.

The tennis season kicks off strong right at the start of the year and almost never takes a breather. The most-watched events are called the Grand Slams, and they’re spaced out nicely so you always have something major coming up. Here’s a quick rundown:

• Australian Open: Usually in mid to late January, it’s the first Slam of the year. It’s known for blazing heat and some late-night battles.
• French Open (Roland Garros): Held around late May to early June on clay courts—the ultimate test for all those sliding shots.
• Wimbledon: Think grass courts and all-white outfits in early July. This is the oldest and maybe the most famous tournament.
• US Open: Late August to early September in New York, known for its energy and rowdy nighttime crowds.

Here’s a table for a clear snapshot. These dates usually hold, but always double-check as schedules sometimes shift with Olympic years or weird weather:

If you’re hungry for more than just the Grand Slams, there are also the ATP and WTA tours. These feature tournaments almost every week, but keep an eye out for the Masters 1000 series (like Indian Wells or Miami Open), as those often get solid TV play too. And around November, the ATP Finals and WTA Finals wrap up the season with the top 8 players battling it out.

Bottom line: If you plan for Grand Slam dates, you’ll always catch the highlights. Circle those weeks and you won’t miss the big moments when tennis really takes over the TV.

Top Sports Channels for Watching Tennis

If you’re looking to tune in to tennis tournaments live, your first stop should be the main sports networks. These channels have locked down most of the big events, especially the Grand Slams and Master series. The lineup does change a bit depending on your country, but here’s the lowdown on the main ones if you’re in the US, UK, or Australia.

• ESPN (and ESPN2): The top pick for US fans. ESPN owns exclusive rights to the Australian Open, Wimbledon, and US Open. They put major matches right on their main channel or sometimes ESPN2, and usually bring in extra matches through ESPN+.
• Tennis Channel: This is the go-to for hardcore fans in the US. If you want to catch ATP and WTA tours, Davis Cup, or tournaments happening outside Grand Slams, this channel’s loaded with daily coverage and highlights. Some Europa leagues and less-hyped events are only here.
• BBC & ITV (UK): Wimbledon’s always been a BBC classic, and you can watch for free if you're in the UK. ITV had the rights to the French Open for years, but starting in 2024, Discovery+ and Eurosport took over Roland-Garros.
• Eurosport (Europe/UK): Pretty much the tennis channel for the rest of Europe. They show the Australian Open, French Open, and lots of ATP/WTA tournaments. In the UK, recent changes mean you need Eurosport or Discovery+ for most clay matches.
• beIN SPORTS (Australia, Middle East, Asia): Aussie fans usually hit Channel Nine for the Australian Open, but beIN grabs a bunch of ATP/WTA coverage too.

If you’re more of a numbers person, check out how these channels own the rights for the four biggest tennis tournaments:

Channels love to shuffle their rights, so if you want to catch every serve, double-check listings before a tournament starts. Tennis Channel Plus and ESPN+ give bonus coverage, like extra courts or on-demand replays, which can be worth a try if you’re chasing less mainstream matches. For most people, your standard cable or satellite package will cover the basics. But you’ll get the best mix if you have both regular sports channels and access to streaming add-ons.

Best Streaming Services for Live Matches

If you want to keep up with live tennis but hate digging through cable guides, streaming services have your back. Seriously, the amount of tennis you can watch online is wild now. Some platforms even let you pick which court you want to stream—no more missing the underdog drama because the TV is stuck on Centre Court.

Let’s get into the main streaming services you should check out if chasing live tennis is your thing. Here’s where you’ll find most of the action:

• ESPN+: For US viewers, ESPN+ is a must for the Australian Open, Wimbledon (all outer courts), and a ton of ATP/WTA events. It’s about $10.99/month, and you can cancel whenever you want.
• Tennis Channel Plus: This is basically heaven for tennis nerds. You get a huge chunk of ATP and WTA tournaments, plus replays and classic matches. It’s $109.99 a year, and sometimes there are monthly deals, so keep an eye out.
• Peacock: For fans wanting to see Roland Garros, Peacock is where NBC shares the French Open coverage. It’s cheap, usually $5.99/month, and sometimes offers a week-long free trial during big tournaments.
• Amazon Prime Video: If you’re in the UK or Europe, almost every ATP and WTA match lands here (except the Grand Slams). Monthly subscriptions hover around £8.99 as of June 2025.

Most of these services come with free trials, so if you just want to check out the French Open or Wimbledon finals, time it right and you might not pay a cent. Pro tip: sometimes streaming platforms drop surprise extra courts or camera angles during Grand Slams, so poke around the app’s options panel. Not everyone realizes this, but often, the streaming quality on these platforms beats what you get on cable—less lag and no random cuts to commercials after every point.

Here’s a quick look at what you get with each service:

If you're outside these regions, or the match you want isn't on local channels, consider a VPN. Lots of fans use this trick to sign up for streaming services in other countries. Just double check each service’s rules so you don’t get banned mid-match. Above all, look around for bundles—sometimes a sports package adds tennis TV coverage for less than what a basic streaming account would cost solo.

Tips for Affordable and International Viewing

If you're trying to watch tennis from a different country or just hunting for a cheaper way to see all the action, it helps to know a few shortcuts. Some TV deals cost a fortune, but you usually don’t need to break the bank. Let’s get to the smart options people actually use.

First, streaming is your friend. Services like Tennis Channel Plus, Amazon Prime Video (for UK viewers), or ESPN+ in the US often show tons of tournaments live—you’ll find some even include classic replays and highlights. Some of these let you subscribe just for a month, so you can hop on for Wimbledon, then bow out when the grass is done.

If you’re outside the US or UK, lots of Euro fans use Eurosport, which has rights to stream the Australian Open, French Open, and more. In Australia, Channel Nine lets you watch any Grand Slam they have the rights for, often with a free ad-supported plan. French fans have France Télévisions for Roland Garros—again, sometimes at no cost.

Want to save even more? Here’s what fans do:

• tennis TV broadcasters’ official sites sometimes offer free highlights or short trial periods. Check right before a big match.
• FuboTV and Sling TV offer US-based streaming packages with short free trials or month-to-month cancellations. Use these during Grand Slam windows then cancel.
• Consider using a VPN to access legal streams from other countries, especially when matches aren’t showing in your region. Example: Australian Open free on 9Now with VPN from outside Australia.
• If your channel includes multiple sports, share an account with a friend. Many platforms allow two or more devices on one plan.

To give you a quick idea of where to stream the Grand Slams without paying extra for cable, check the table below:

Just double-check blackout restrictions and always use legal streams. You’ll avoid the laggy, sketchy feeds and keep the tennis rolling—all without spending more than you need.