Two of tennis’s four Grand Slams sit on the same channel family in the US, and you don’t need a cable box to see either one. Wimbledon is played on the grass of the All England Club in late June and early July. The US Open takes over New York in late August and early September. In the US, ESPN is the exclusive home of Wimbledon, and ESPN and ABC share the US Open.
Table of Contents
This guide explains what you need to subscribe to, how to pay as little as possible, and which mistakes cost fans a match. Pricing and plan contents change often, so check each service’s own sign-up page before you pay.
Quick Answer
The simplest way to watch both tournaments without cable is ESPN’s standalone streaming tier, ESPN Unlimited, which streams every match from both events through the ESPN app. If you only want a few days, a live TV service such as Sling, Fubo, YouTube TV, DirecTV Stream or Hulu + Live TV also carries the ESPN channels, and some offer short passes or free trials. An over-the-air antenna can pick up the US Open matches that ABC broadcasts for free.
Step 1: Pick the Right Streaming Option
ESPN Unlimited is the direct route. It is ESPN’s own service, it doesn’t need a TV provider login, and it carries ESPN and ESPN2 along with full-court streaming. ESPN has said every Wimbledon match streams on ESPN Unlimited, and the US Open’s many courts stream there too. Watch the tier names. ESPN’s cheaper Select tier (the successor to ESPN+) did not carry Wimbledon matches in 2026, and some older articles still list ESPN+ as the place to stream it. Confirm on ESPN’s site that the tier you’re buying includes the tournament.
Live TV streaming services are the alternative. ESPN says the linear ESPN, ESPN2 and ABC coverage can also be streamed through DirecTV Stream, Sling, Fubo, YouTube TV or Hulu + Live TV. Their prices run higher than ESPN’s standalone service because you’re paying for a whole channel lineup, but they suit you if you also want news, local channels or other sports.
Local ABC is where these services differ. Sling, for example, offers live ABC only in a small set of designated markets, and only on certain plans, so don’t assume it’s included. Sling’s Orange plan, which is the one its 1-, 3- and 7-day passes are built on, does not include local channels. Enter your ZIP code on each service’s site to see whether your local ABC station is included before you sign up.
Bundling can help. ESPN has offered discounted bundles that combine ESPN Unlimited with Disney+ and Hulu, so if you already pay for one of those services, check the bundle price before you buy them separately.
Step 2: Save Money or Watch for Free
Time your subscription. Both tournaments last about two weeks, and the last weekend is what most casual fans want. Subscribe just before the quarterfinals, watch the finals, then cancel. Set a calendar reminder so a trial or month doesn’t renew unnoticed.
Use short passes and free trials. Sling sells 1-, 3- and 7-day passes for its Orange plan, which includes ESPN and ESPN2, at a few dollars a day up to about fifteen dollars for a week. Other live TV services have run free trials for new subscribers around big events. Eligibility and length vary, so read the terms and confirm that the channels you need are included.
Use an antenna. ABC airs select US Open days, including the men’s final in 2026, so a cheap digital antenna gets those broadcasts in HD with no monthly fee. It won’t get you ESPN or ESPN2, where much of the early-round action airs, and it won’t cover Wimbledon, which ESPN presents exclusively.
Watch on the go. Once you have an account, the ESPN app or your live TV service’s app works on phones, tablets, smart TVs and streaming sticks. Check the schedule in the app and set alerts for your favorite players.
Tips / Common Mistakes
Check the date before you subscribe. Wimbledon’s main draw typically starts around the end of June and finishes in mid-July. The US Open usually starts in late August and ends in mid-September. Exact dates change every year, so look at the official tournament sites.
Don’t assume every tier includes it. Cheap add-ons and older plan names can leave out the tournament you want, and articles from previous years are often out of date.
Don’t assume you get local ABC. Availability depends on the service, the plan and your market, so check your ZIP code before you pay.
Watch out for time zones. Wimbledon matches begin in the morning on the US East Coast, and the US Open’s night sessions can end after midnight. Use the replay feature if you can’t stay up.
Avoid unofficial free streams. They tend to be low quality, cluttered with pop-ups and malware, and may violate copyright. Legitimate free trials and antennas are safer.
Test your setup before the big day. Log in, confirm your channel lineup and check your internet speed the day before, rather than during the semifinal.
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Watching Wimbledon and the US Open without cable FAQs
Can I watch Wimbledon and the US Open for free without cable?
Partly. A free trial from a live TV service, or an antenna for the US Open matches ABC broadcasts, will get you some coverage at no cost. Wimbledon is exclusive to ESPN in the US, so watching it legitimately usually requires a paid ESPN Unlimited subscription or a live TV service that carries ESPN.
Do I need ESPN Unlimited or will the cheaper ESPN tier work?
ESPN Unlimited is the tier that streams every match from both tournaments. The cheaper Select tier did not carry Wimbledon matches in 2026. Tier names and contents change, so confirm on ESPN’s sign-up page before paying.
Does Sling TV carry ABC?
Only in select markets. Sling offers live local ABC in a limited number of designated markets and only on certain plans, and its Orange plan does not include local channels. Check your ZIP code on Sling’s site before subscribing.
What is the cheapest way to watch just the finals?
A short-term pass (Sling sells 1-, 3- and 7-day passes for Orange, which includes ESPN), a free trial, or an over-the-air antenna for the ABC-broadcast US Open matches are the least expensive routes. Subscribing for a single month and canceling afterward is another.
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Photo: Ken Lund from Reno, Nevada, USA / CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons.