I walked into my first tennis US Open in 2003 assuming that, like any other pro sports game, I’d be sardined shoulder-to-shoulder with screaming fans doing the wave, while juggling a crusty hot dog and soda. Instead, an air of refined classiness lured me across the threshold at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center in New York City’s Flushing Meadows. This wasn’t just about sitting on the sidelines for one match, there was a wonderland to be discovered, from immersive activities and refined food and most impressively, matches on courts all around me, some so close that I felt like I’d knock the ball off course if I sneezed.

The American Grand Slam, currently running through September 7, is one of the sport’s four majors, the top titles that every tennis pro strives for. The year starts with the Australian Open in Melbourne in January, then moves to Roland Garros (also called the French Open) in Paris around Memorial Day, and Wimbledon outside of London around the Fourth of July.

While each Grand Slam bears its own personality, they all exude that magical feeling that’s equal parts thrilling and overwhelming, especially to first-timers who may not realize the massiveness of the tournaments’ grounds and offerings.

So we turned to the insiders, from pro players like No. 4 American Jessica Pegula, International Tennis Hall of Fame (ITHF) Class of 2025 inductee Maria Sharapova, and four-time Grand Slam semifinalist Tommy Haas to founders of travel tennis tour companies, coaches, concessioners, and more to source the unwritten rules of attending a Grand Slam.

Go early in the tournaments

All the Grand Slams follow a bracket-style elimination, which means there are more matches at the beginning, as players get sent home after they lose. Pegula advises attending earlier in the tournament’s first week. “You get a chance to see a bunch of matches, and usually it’s cheaper and easier,” the World of Hyatt ambassador tells Condé Nast Traveler. She’s even seen her own friends, who may not be the biggest tennis fans, get to know up-and-coming players by catching them early on a small court. “Maybe that person does well and then you have a connection to them and follow them,” she says.

Find ticket deals

Like any event, ticket prices have soared in recent years. During our search this week, we saw US Open grounds passes (that means no access to the main stadiums) ranging for $76 to $140 for weekday day sessions, but over $400 for a weekend on the resale market. While each Slam’s ticket sales operates differently, Nicolas Pereira, a former pro who’s an ATP Council committee member and analyst on Tennis Channel, says that resale tickets are especially expensive in New York, suggesting fans only purchase through the official site. But he also says that at Wimbledon, ticket holders with grounds passes have the chance to purchase returned Show Court seats £10 for No.1 Court and No.2 Court, and £15 for Centre Court. “This is a super cheap way to see the top stars performing on the big show courts, but you may have to queue for sometime to pick these tickets up,” he says.

Plan to be there all day

Haas, who is now tournament director for the BNP Paribas Open in Greater Palm Springs’ Indian Wells Tennis Garden, says that unlike other sports where it’s all about the one big game, fan should instead plan to take “advantage of all that your ticket has to offer.” He suggests getting to the venue right when the gates open, which is usually an hour before matches begin, to check out the practice courts, food, shopping, and all the activities. Even if your ticket is for a stadium seat, Haas says to take time to go to the outside courts, where matches are also being played. “You can get up really close to such a high level of tennis and it’s an amazing thing to see in person.”

Check the weather and prepare for anything

While each Grand Slam venue now has at least one stadium with a retractable roof, much of the grounds are uncovered, so you’re often facing the elements. “Some tournaments have unpredictable conditions,” says Craig Boynton, ATP player coach for Saddlebrook Resort’s Touring Pro Program. “I’ve seen days go from almost snowing to scorching heat. Be ready for anything.” He suggests wearing breathable clothing, admitting that, “if it’s hot, you’re going to sweat—a lot!” Almost every one of our experts emphasizes the importance of hydrating and frequently reapplying sunscreen. Oftentimes there will be a sponsor giving away sunscreen samples, says Claudio Adolfssen, head coach at The Ritz-Carlton Naples Tiburón Mouratoglou Tennis Academy. He prefers to buy water on site since some venues have restrictions on big size and contents.

Make use of public transportation

With tens of thousands attending each day of the Grand Slam, opting for public transit isn’t just efficient, but also can save you time and money. And Emmy-winning actress Uzo Aduba, who played in the ITHF’s inaugural Celebrity Pro Classic, says even the subway transforms into a special experience during matches. “If you’ve never been to the US Open, you must take the 7 Train out there at least once,” she says. “There’s a quiet transfer of energy as it gets closer and closer. Everybody’s excited for one singular reason. It’s like adult Disney World.” The same spirit continues on the return trip too. “You’re hearing all the conversations and the cacophony of energy just surrounding it,” Aduba says.

Understand the personality of each Grand Slam

Yes, they’re all bracket-style tournaments played over 15 days, except for Wimbledon, which is 14. While the obvious difference is that the UK one is played on grass, French on red clay, and the other two on hard courts, there’s also an unspoken distinct vibe at each. Aduba, who has been to all but Australia calls Wimbledon the first-born, where the formalities include the players all dressing in white. “It would be a mistake to come in your workwear to the All England,” she tells CNT. The Residence star calls Roland Garros “the parent-ified second child” since it’s “quiet fun” because “you can see and feel the work in the sense that the clay is unforgiving—there’s a sort of grit required that translates to the spirit of the French Open.” Her keen analogy ranks the US Open as “the rambunctious middle child” and “Australia is the last born who just does whatever they want.”

Dress accordingly

“Smart casual probably sums it up,” Pereira says. For the US Open, he suggests men wear Bermuda shorts and polos or breathable linen button downs during the day, with chinos and short sleeves shirts at night, while women might want to opt for shorts or skirts with short-sleeve blouses for the day, with comfy linen is always a winner. No matter what, always bring layers for the night sessions: “If a match goes on late into the evening, it can get chilly.”

Determine your goals for the day

Tennis may be the draw, but there are so many ways to take in a Grand Slam. “It’s important to reflect and know what you actually want to get out of your experience at the Slam,” says Kyle Ross, who runs Grand Slam Tennis Tours, offering packages to all the majors. He says to consider whether you prioritize a great seat in the main stadium, or prefer to be more agile and hop around the small courts. Also, would you rather see a big name “destroy” someone in the early rounds, or a more competitive match-up in the second week? And be honest: are you there for the tennis or for the vibes. There’s nothing wrong with either, but knowing your goals will help focus once you get there, and avoid disappointment.

Plot out your schedule, but be ready to pivot

Each round typically takes two days (or, now, three days for Round 1 for tournaments that are 15 days long), which means players only hit the court every other day. “It’s important to remember when buying tickets far in advance, it can be hard to predict what day your favorite player will be scheduled,” Adolfssen says. He says schedules typically get released the night before, and to check early and decide which matches you don’t want to miss in order to “map out your own perfect schedule and day of watching tennis.”

The French Open is one of the most exciting Grand Slams—especially with this year’s lineup. Djokovic, Alcaraz, and Sinner—just those names alone promise a show. Even better, there’s a way to watch the French Open live on a free channel, so you won’t miss a single moment.

In this guide, we’ll highlight two free channels for streaming Roland Garros and explain how to access them from anywhere in the world. We’ll also include a few premium streaming services from the UK, Canada, and the US that broadcast the event.

The schedule for Thursday, June 5

This Thursday at Roland-Garros, we’ll be treated to the two women’s singles semifinals.

Here is the detailed schedule:

• [1] Aryna Sabalenka vs [5] Iga Swiatek (POL) – Not before 3:00 PM CET / 9:00 AM ET / 6:00 AM PST
• [2] Coco Gauff (USA) vs [WC] Lois Boisson (FRA)

Which free channels are broadcasting the French Open live?

Reigning and upcoming champs will battle it out on the clay-filled courts and honor us with some epic showdowns. As exciting as it sounds, it doesn’t have to cost a penny.

Two free channels broadcast the French Open 2025:

If you’re in one of these countries, you know you can boot them up and start watching. However, as these are foreign channels for many of you, it’s good to know what they actually provide.

9Now broadcasts the best French Open 2025 matches online for free every day. You’ll need a free account, which takes less than a minute to create. 9Now also offers English commentary, making it a great option for English-speaking viewers.

France TV is a French channel, so naturally, it features French commentary. It broadcasts all matches (you can follow the action on every court) except for the night sessions. The night sessions refer to the matches played on the Central Court after 8:15 PM Paris time.

This TV channel also requires a free account, but again, creating one takes a minute or two, as you can sign up without a TV license. The main gripe with these two is that they’re region-locked to their respective regions.

9Now works only in Australia, whilst France TV works only in France.

Trick to Watch the French Open 2025 on a Free Channel from Anywhere

To sidestep this inconvenience, people have been relying on VPNs for years. Watching the French Open for free online was never an issue with a popular option like NordVPN. You’ve likely heard of it by this point.

Watch the tournament for free with NordVPN

As the world’s #1 provider by popularity (and quality), NordVPN provides quintessential servers in Australia and France. It’s also equipped with unrestricted bandwidth and fast 10 Gbps server ports built for speed.

The main advantage of NordVPN, according to people online, is compatibility. It works on all desktop and mobile devices, but its VPN app for Fire TV and Apple TV is also there. This makes it easy to watch Roland Garros live for free on your TV.

NordVPN allows for a swift IP address change. Once your IP originates from another country, you can overcome stubborn geo-blocks and access new content. Simply put, you’ll need an IP from Australia or France to unblock 9Now or France TV.

With NordVPN installed, you just need to connect to a server in the respective country, go to the free channel that streams the French Open 2025, and enjoy.

Keep in mind that NordVPN isn’t free, but in this case, it can be. After all, there’s a 30-day money-back guarantee. In this period, you can stream the entire Grand Slam and still have ample time left to request and get a full refund.

If necessary, we have a tutorial that explains how to test NordVPN free of charge for 30 days.

How to Stream the French Open Live in the USA

Even in the USA, using the two free channels is a more sensible option.

That’s because US-based streaming services are costly. Still, if you don’t want to mess around with VPNs, you can opt for one of these three:

• Sling TV (TNT) — at least $45.99/mo (Sling Orange or Blue)
• DirecTV (TNT) — at least $79.99/mo + $69.99/mo for MySports
• HBO Max — at least $17/mo

Sling TV provides access to TNT where the stream will be available — Blue and Orange plans are both eligible. You’ll find that Orange also contains ESPN. DirecTV requires a $69.99/mo MySports package for this purpose.

It includes TNT and ESPN Plus for free if you wish to stream other sports.

You don’t have to have an eagle eye to see the prices. Sling TV and DirecTV are way out of many people’s budgets. Plus, they don’t have lengthy free trials that would allow you to watch the French Open for free.

DirecTV has a risk-free 5-day trial, but that’s roughly a third of the event.

Bear in mind that, even if you have an account with one of these three, you still won’t be able to access them abroad. HBO Max can be watched outside the USA, along with DirecTV and Sling TV, but with a caveat — you’ll need a VPN!

Watch the French Open With NordVPN

Watching Roland Garros 2025 in the UK

Brits don’t have a vibrant selection of channels for this case.

They do lack horses for the race, but there’s Discovery Plus that comes to the rescue. Unfortunately, Discovery Plus is no joke price-wise and costs £31/mo in the United Kingdom. A notable free trial is missing, as well.

Once you spend your £31, you won’t be able to get it back, either. On top of that, Discovery Plus works abroad only with a VPN, even if you have an active subscription paid for regularly.

It’s worth noting that Discovery Plus also provides access to Eurosport, which will broadcast the French Grand Slam for the rest of Europe. Eurosport also isn’t free and costs £3.99 for Discovery Plus subscribers.

How to Watch Roland Garros Live in Canada

Canadians, similarly to Brits, don’t have plenty of choices — TSN is once again there to quench their tennis thirst. Of course, at a price. TSN is relatively inexpensive, so it might be a good option if you’re in Canada.

The subscription starts at $8/mo or $80/year if you pay upfront.

Like 9Now and Discovery Plus, TSN provides Full HD coverage and includes English commentary for better immersion. Just bear in mind that TSN is Canada-exclusive, so being on vacation rids you of access to it.

NordVPN can help you regain access risk-free if you so desire.

Other than that, TSN doesn’t provide a free trial and won’t allow you to sign up as a new user without a Canadian payment method. As explained, TSN is adequate only for native Canadian tennis fans.

Final Thoughts

Your vacation or business trip doesn’t have to squander your plans to watch the French Open 2025 on a free channel. 9Now and France TV are there, and with risk-free NordVPN, you’ll catch up to all major matches with no issues.

If you’d rather use premium platforms and don’t mind the price tag, so be it. You have a myriad of options in the US, the UK, and Canada. Sling TV, DirecTV, HBO Max, Discovery Plus, and TSN — six excellent premium channels.

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