The Australian Open is one of the four Grand Slam tennis tournaments and marks the start of the professional tennis season each year. Hosted in Melbourne, the tournament showcases the world’s top-ranked players, high-intensity rivalries, and fast-paced hard-court matches, delivering unforgettable moments from early rounds to the championship final.
For fans who want to watch the Australian Open in Europe for free, 9Now is an excellent option. The Australian streaming platform offers live coverage and highlights of the tournament, making it easy to follow every match without paying for a cable or premium sports subscription.
Since 9Now is only available in Australia, viewers in Europe may not access it. Using PureVPN allows you to connect to an Australian server and watch the Australian Open 2026 in Europe livestream.
Australian Open 2026 Key Details
- Dates: January 12 – February 1, 2026
- Location: Melbourne Park, Melbourne, Australia
- Prize Money: $111.5M (US$74.9M)
- Broadcasters: 9Now, ESPN, Eurosport.
Why Do You Need a VPN to Watch the Australian Open 2026 in Europe on 9Now?
You need a VPN to watch the Australian Open 2026 in Europe on 9Now because the platform is only available to users located in Australia. 9Now checks your IP address to determine your location, and if you’re in Europe, access to the live stream is inaccessible.
PureVPN helps solve this issue by masking your real IP address and assigning you an Australian IP instead. This makes it appear as though you’re browsing from within Australia, allowing you to access 9Now and stream the tournament without any regional limitations.
Once connected to an Australian server through PureVPN, you can watch matches just like a local viewer. PureVPN also enhances your online privacy by encrypting your internet connection. This is especially useful when streaming on public Wi-Fi or unsecured networks.
How to Watch the Australian Open 2026 in Europe Live on Mobile?
The Australian Open on mobile lets tennis fans enjoy every serve and rally from anywhere. Begin by downloading the 9Now app from the Apple App Store or Google Play Store for live matches and highlights. If you’re in Europe, install PureVPN and connect to an Australian server to access 9Now.
Once connected through PureVPN, sign in or create a free 9Now account to start streaming. The mobile app is optimized for smooth performance, allowing you to switch between courts, catch replays, and follow all the action in real time. PureVPN ensures a stable and secure connection, reducing buffering and making the Australian Open easy to stream on mobile networks in Europe.
Australian Open 2026 Preview
The Australian Open 2026 marks the first Grand Slam of the year, running from January 12 to February 1 at Melbourne Park. This premier hard-court major features main draw singles (128 players each gender), doubles, mixed doubles, juniors, and wheelchair competitions, preceded by qualifying rounds January 8-11.
Record prize money totals AU$111.5 million (US$74.9 million, +16%), with singles champions earning AU$4.15 million (US$2.79 million) and first-round losers AU$150,000 (+14%). Venue upgrades include the new Grand Slam Oval (15,000 seats) alongside Rod Laver Arena’s retractable roof, ensuring uninterrupted play.
Historical trends favor baseline aggressors 62% of men’s winners since 2010 and endurance (average final lasts 4h12m). Attendance consistently exceeds 1 million across 15 days, with night sessions averaging 28,000 fans.
Entry lists confirm 99/100 top men and 98/100 top women competing, alongside qualifiers and wild cards. The tournament’s timing post-holidays often yields upsets, with qualifiers claiming 8% of top-10 victories.
Focus shifts to baseline power, serve dominance (92% first-serve win rate for recent champs), and break-point conversion (85% WTA leaders). Beyond singles, doubles emphasize synergy, while wheelchair events showcase Paralympic stars. Australian Open kicks off 2026 Slam season amid record economics, blending tradition with innovation on Melbourne’s fast hard courts.
Where is the Australian Open 2026 being held?
The Australian Open takes place at Melbourne Park, Melbourne, Victoria, one of the biggest tennis venues in the world and home to the Grand Slam event since 1988.
Melbourne Park has three show courts – the Rod Laver Arena (the second largest indoor sports venue in Australia with a capacity of 15,000), as well as the John Cain Arena (capacity: 10,500) and Margaret Court Arena (capacity: 7,500).
In 2025, the Australian Open welcomed over one million fans for the first time ever.
When does the Australian Open 2026 start? How to get to Melbourne Park and key dates for opening Grand Slam #Tennis https://t.co/HYitU2GFdo
— TennisUpToDate (@TennisUpToDate2) January 9, 2026
What is the Australian Open 2026 schedule?
| Date | Schedule |
|---|---|
| 12 January | Singles Qualifying |
| 13 January | Singles Qualifying |
| 14 January | Singles Qualifying |
| 15 January | Singles Qualifying |
| 18 January | WTA Singles ATP Singles |
| 19 January | WTA Singles, Doubles ATP Singles, Doubles |
| 20 January | WTA Singles, Doubles ATP Singles, Doubles |
| 21 January | WTA Singles, Doubles ATP Singles, Doubles |
| 22 January | WTA Singles, Doubles ATP Singles, Doubles |
| 23 January | ATP Singles |
| 24 January | WTA Singles, Doubles ATP Singles, Doubles Juniors Girls’ singles, Boys’ singles |
| 25 January | WTA Singles ATP Singles Wheelchair Women’s & Men’s & Quad Singles & Doubles Juniors Girls’ & Boys’ Doubles |
| 26 January | WTA Singles, Doubles ATP Singles, Doubles Wheelchair Women’s & Men’s & Quad Singles & Doubles Juniors Boys’ Singles & Doubles |
| 27 January | WTA Singles & Doubles – Quarter-final ATP Singles – Quarter-final Wheelchair Women’s, Men’s & Quad Singles Juniors Girls’ & Boys’ Singles & Doubles |
| 28 January | WTA Singles & Doubles – Quarter-final ATP Singles & Doubles – Quarter-final Wheelchair Women’s, Men’s & Quad Singles & Quad Doubles Juniors Girls’ & Boys’ Singles & Doubles – Quarter-final |
| 29 January | WTA Singles & Doubles – Semi-final ATP Doubles – Semi-final Wheelchair Women’s & Men’s Singles – Semi-final, Quad Singles Juniors Girls’ & Boys’ Singles & Doubles – Semi-final |
| 30 January | ATP Singles – Semi-final Wheelchair Men’s, Women’s & Quad Doubles – Final Juniors Girls’ & Boys’ Doubles – Final Juniors Girls’ & Boys’ Singles – Quarter-final |
| 31 January | WTA Singles & Doubles – Final ATP Doubles – Final Wheelchair Women’s & Men’s Singles – Final, Quad Singles, Girls’ & Boys’ Wheelchair Singles Juniors Girls’ & Boys’ Singles – Semi-final |
| 1 February | ATP Singles – Final Juniors Girls’ & Boys’ Singles – Final |
Australian Open 2026 top seeded players
Women’s singles
- Aryna Sabalenka
- Iga Swiatek (POL)
- Coco Gauff (USA)
- Amanda Anisimova (USA)
- Elena Rybakina (KAZ)
Men’s singles
- Carlos Alcaraz (ESP)
- Jannik Sinner (ITA)
- Alexander Zverev (GER)
- Novak Djokovic (SRB)
- Felix Auger-Aliassime (CAN)
Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner teased Friday the prospect of teaming up for doubles as the world's top two prepare to open their seasons with a lucrative exhibition match in South Korea, a week before the Australian Open. https://t.co/5W7C38s5hI
— Eyewitness News (@ewnupdates) January 9, 2026
What is the Australian Open 2026 prize money?
This 2026 Australian Open is set to have a record-breaking prize money pool for players. Check out the full breakdown for the singles draw below:
| Champion | $4,150,000 |
| Runner-up | $2,150,000 |
| Semi-finalist | $1,250,000 |
| Quarter-finalist | $750,000 |
| Fourth round | $480,000 |
| Third round | $327,750 |
| Second round | $225,000 |
| First round | $150,000 |
| Qualifying – third round | $83,500 |
| Qualifying – second round | $57,000 |
| Qualifying – first round | $40,500 |
What is the Australian Open prize money?
For 2026 there is a prize pot increase of 16% to $111.5m prize pool. The prize money is equal for both the men’s and women’s champions.
So for the winner it now stands at $4,150,000, which is an 19% increase, with the runner up getting $2,150,000 and Semi-finalists getting $1,250,000.
Australian Open 2025 champions
Here’s a rundown of all the reigning champions from the 2025 Australian Open:
- Men’s singles – Jannik Sinner (ITA)
- Women’s singles – Madison Keys (USA)
- Men’s doubles – Henry Patten (GBR) & Harri Heliovaara (FIN)
- Women’s doubles – Katerina Siniakova (CZE) & Taylor Townsend (USA)
- Mixed doubles – Olivia Gadecki (AUS) & John Peers (AUS)
- Wheelchair men’s singles – Alfie Hewett (GBR)
- Wheelchair women’s singles – Yui Kamiji (JPN)
- Wheelchair quad singles – Sam Schroder (NED)
- Wheelchair men’s doubles – Alfie Hewett (GBR) & Gordon Reid (GBR)
- Wheelchair women’s doubles – Li Xiaohui (CHN) & Wang Ziying (CHN)
- Wheelchair quad doubles – Andy Lapthorne (GBR) & Sam Schroder (NED)
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, you can watch the Australian Open 2026 in Europe for free using online streaming services. Some international platforms provide live matches and highlights at no cost. 9Now is a free Australian platform that works with a VPN to stream the tournament.
Yes, streaming is safe when you use licensed platforms or reputable services. 9Now is officially licensed in Australia and can be accessed from Europe via PureVPN. This ensures a secure and legal way to watch the Australian Open 2026.
Absolutely, cable subscriptions are not required to watch the Australian Open 2026. Online streaming platforms provide full tournament coverage. 9Now allows European viewers to stream live matches and replays for free.
You can stream the Australian Open 2026 on laptops, smartphones, tablets, and smart TVs. Most platforms are mobile-friendly and easy to access. 9Now works smoothly on apps and web browsers across these devices.
Yes, highlights are accessible for free across various platforms. They include daily match clips, key points, and replays. 9Now also offers highlights and short match recaps for viewers in Europe without any cost.
Yes, 9Now streams live matches including singles, doubles, and major sessions of the Australian Open 2026. You can follow the tournament in real time. All streams are free with PureVPN
