If you’re trying to watch tennis live and are a bit lost in the streaming jungle, you’re not alone. My kid Finn is always quick to grab the remote when a Grand Slam is on, and even my dog, Bruno, has figured out the ESPN “woof” cue. But let’s clear things up: ESPN’s tennis coverage has changed a lot, and prices and coverage aren’t what they used to be.
Today, ESPN carries select big tennis events, but let’s be real—if you want every ATP and WTA match, it’s not all in one place. ESPN+ is their main streaming platform, and it usually handles Australian Open and US Open streams, but coverage changes yearly, so double-check what’s available before subscribing. If you only want Grand Slams, ESPN+ is a solid bet and much cheaper than a full cable package—think $10.99 a month as of May 2025, though that could nudge up like every other streaming service.
You don’t need to sign your life away; ESPN+ subscriptions are month-to-month. If your favorite tournament is in August, just pay for that month, binge the matches, and cancel after. No awkward calls to customer service, just a few clicks. That flexible plan helps when you’re split between streaming tennis, football, and Frozen (my living room never gets a break).
- Does ESPN Still Own Tennis? The Current Rights Picture
- How Much Does ESPN+ Cost for Tennis in 2025?
- Where to Stream Major Tennis Tournaments and Grand Slams
- Tips for Catching Every Match Without Breaking the Bank
Does ESPN Still Own Tennis? The Current Rights Picture
If you’re wondering whether ESPN still controls everything in tennis, the answer is: not really, but they’re still a major player for American fans. Here’s the deal. ESPN snapped up exclusive rights to the US Open all the way through 2025, so if you want to watch Serena, Alcaraz, or Coco Gauff on the New York stage, ESPN tennis coverage is your ticket. You’ll find pretty much every single match either on the main ESPN channel or streaming on ESPN+ during the two-week madness of August and September.
For the Australian Open, ESPN remains the main U.S. broadcaster. If you’re trying to catch the 3 a.m. Melbourne sessions, ESPN+ usually has most live matches and replays. However, Wimbledon moved away from ESPN back in 2024—now, if you want Centre Court drama in July, you’ve got to go to NBC (or their Peacock streaming service). The French Open? That’s entirely with NBC and Peacock, so ESPN doesn’t cover that Slam anymore either.
When it comes to regular ATP and WTA tour events—think Miami, Indian Wells, or random clay court matches—ESPN mostly sits these out. Tennis Channel has scooped up rights for almost all non-Slam events, so you’ll want that channel for year-round tennis.
For American tennis fans, ESPN is basically all about the US Open and the Aussie Open at this point. Want to know exactly where your must-watch tournaments air? Check each tournament’s official site every season since money and contracts change so fast you’d think it’s the stock market. But for now, ESPN+ still covers those two marquee Slams, and you can skip the cable bundle if all you care about is big-time Grand Slam action in New York and Melbourne.
How Much Does ESPN+ Cost for Tennis in 2025?
Let’s get straight to the money part. As of May 2025, an ESPN+ subscription runs $10.99 per month. If you want the full year, you’re looking at $109.99, which basically gives you two months free if you do the math. These prices are straight from the ESPN+ signup page, not a random blog or rumor.
Now, is it just tennis? Nope. ESPN+ gives you a pile of live sports—UFC, NHL, soccer, some college football, and tons of on-demand stuff. But for ESPN tennis, here’s what you actually get: full US Open coverage, most of the Australian Open, and a handful of smaller tournaments ESPN has rights for. Wimbledon? That’s still a no-go—in the US, that’s NBC/Peacock territory now. French Open? That’s on NBC and Peacock too.
You don’t need cable or satellite. Download ESPN+ on your phone, smart TV, Roku, PlayStation, or any browser. Here’s the nice part:
- No contracts, no hidden fees.
- You can cancel or restart whenever—no waiting on hold, just a button click.
- If you want to stream in HD, that’s included. No extra charge for better picture quality.
- One ESPN+ account covers your whole house, so you and the kids can watch different stuff at the same time.
Heads up: ESPN+ doesn’t unlock all ESPN TV channels. You get exclusive streaming content, not the regular ESPN cable broadcasts. Some tennis matches might air on traditional ESPN, especially deep in a big tournament, but ESPN+ does carry a lot of early-round action and replays.
If you’re laser-focused on tennis season, subscribe at the start of a Grand Slam, binge, and cancel when it’s over to save money. For families like mine, with a dog on the couch and kids flipping between tennis and cartoons, ESPN+ is about the easiest way to get big matches without cable headaches.
Where to Stream Major Tennis Tournaments and Grand Slams
Tracking down which platform actually streams your favorite tennis tournaments these days feels like a scavenger hunt. Here’s how it plays out for the big events in 2025:
- ESPN tennis has the exclusive U.S. rights for the Australian Open and US Open. That means every singles, doubles, and mixed match is on ESPN, ESPN2, or ESPN+. Semifinals and finals usually get top billing on cable, but earlier rounds often show up only on ESPN+.
- Wimbledon is its own beast. Since 2024, Disney’s contract ended, and NBCUniversal (Peacock) now has the exclusive U.S. rights. All matches stream live on Peacock, so ESPN won’t help you here anymore.
- The French Open (Roland-Garros) is now mostly on NBC, Tennis Channel, and Peacock. NBC gets the biggest matches, so plan for a split-watching experience.
- ATP and WTA events outside the Slams are scattered. Tennis Channel covers most U.S. events, plus a ton of international matches, while Amazon Prime still controls a few ATP/WTA rights in the UK and select countries, but not the U.S.
Here’s a quick cheat sheet to see where the Grand Slams land for American viewers in 2025:
| Tournament | Where to Watch (U.S.) | 2025 Streaming Cost (Monthly) |
|---|---|---|
| Australian Open | ESPN, ESPN+, ESPN2 | $10.99 (ESPN+) |
| French Open | NBC, Tennis Channel, Peacock | $5.99 (Peacock) + cable for NBC/Tennis Channel |
| Wimbledon | Peacock, NBC | $5.99 (Peacock) + cable for NBC |
| US Open | ESPN, ESPN+, ESPN2 | $10.99 (ESPN+) |
If you want all four Grand Slams, you’ll need at least ESPN+, Peacock, and probably some kind of cable or live TV streaming plan that has NBC and Tennis Channel. Only watching Slams? You can stick to one service for just a month, then switch as tournaments change—no yearly commitment needed.
Last thing: if you’re outside the U.S., rules change fast. For example, Eurosport covers Slams in parts of Europe, and in the UK, Amazon Prime and Sky Sports split a lot of tennis rights. Always check local listings before whipping out your card.
Tips for Catching Every Match Without Breaking the Bank
Following tennis year-round can get expensive fast if you’re not smart about it. Here’s how you can keep watching your must-see tournaments, without wiping out your budget like a racquet on clay.
- ESPN tennis on ESPN+ works best if you subscribe only during big events. For example, the US Open crams all the best matches into two weeks. Just get ESPN+ for that window, then cancel until the next slam rolls around. There’s no penalty for bouncing in and out.
- Look for bundled deals. Disney bundles ESPN+, Disney+, and Hulu. My kid Finn loves swapping from tennis to cartoons and back. The trio bundle is $14.99/month (as of May 2025). Splitting costs with family or housemates can help even more, just don’t fight over the remote.
- If you already have a cable plan, check if ESPN is included. Lots of regular ESPN cable channels simulcast big matches, so you might not need a separate streaming plan at all for some slams.
- Double-check what each service covers before subscribing. For example, Wimbledon is mostly on ABC or the Tennis Channel in the U.S. right now, not ESPN. Some events have their own apps—Roland Garros has “Roland-Garros Official” streaming with free and paid options, which you can mix with ESPN+ or other platforms to fill gaps.
- Rotate services through the year. If you’re only in it for tennis, map out the tournament calendar. Only pay for the months you truly need, and hop between services based on where matches are shown. Mark big events on your phone to avoid paying for months you’re not watching anything.
Last tip: set calendar reminders for your cancel dates so you don’t accidentally pay for more than you use. Those little charges sneak up if you’re not careful. That way, you'll always have courtside access—without breaking the bank.
