Twenty-eight months since he last won a major, every twanging, aching fiber of Novak Djokovic’s 38-year-old body is counting on this being ninth time lucky. The Serb’s quest for a record-breaking 25th grand slam title has pushed him to breaking point, and Carlos Alcaraz could yet deliver a critical blow today. Djokovic knows as well as anyone that this could it — one last chance to fulfil his ultimate ambition.
The veteran took no time to settle, breaking Alcaraz at will to win the first set by 6-2. The Spaniard looks stunned out on Rod Laver Arena, but it’s far too early to write this extraordinary 22-year-old off.
2026 Australian Open final live streams: TV schedule, dates
The Alcaraz vs Djokovic match takes place today (Sunday, February 1).
► Start time — 3.30 a.m. ET / 8.30 a.m. GMT / 7.30 p.m. AEDT
• U.S. — ESPN Unlimited / ESPN & ESPN2 via Sling
• FREE STREAMS — 9Now (Australia)
• Watch anywhere — Try NordVPN 100% risk free
If Alcaraz wins, he’ll go down in tennis lore as the youngest man to pull off the career grand slam. If Djokovic comes out on top, he’ll be the oldest man to win a major.
The odds are stacked against Djokovic, but anybody who witnessed him salvage 16 of 18 break points against Jannik Sinner on Friday would have a tough time paying any attention at all to logic. He hit 46 winners and 42 unforced errors during the match, while Sinner hit 72 and 42 — it’s just that in almost every clutch moment, as he’s done on so many occasions, Djokovic invariably, miraculously produced the goods.
Alcaraz was one game from a straight-sets victory over Alexander Zverev before cramp brought him to a dramatic standstill. Were it not for a lenient bordering on farcical medical timeout, there’s no way he would have come through. It’s not the first time the Spaniard has struggled in high heat, but the good news is that the skies over Melbourne are a pale shade of grey.
Semi-final controversy aside, he’s been the standout player in Melbourne, and even while operating at 30% for the majority of Friday’s clash he still hit 78 winners to Zverev’s 56, and bailed himself out of five of seven break point situations.
Although Djokovic leads their head-to-head by five victories to four, Alcaraz won both of their previous grand slam final encounters, a pair of matches that probably still haunt the Serb’s dreams. He smashed his racket on a net post (and hurt his wrist) during their five-set epic at Wimbledon in 2023, before going the distance to wind up empty-handed again a year later.
Here’s how to watch Alcaraz vs Djokovic online and on TV — including free streaming options.
Can I watch Alcaraz vs Djokovic free of charge?
The Alcaraz vs Djokovic Australian open final is free-to-air in Australia courtesy of Channel 9, with live streaming available via the 9Now platform.
Just register an account using a valid Aussie postcode (e.g. NSW 2000).
Away from home? You may not be able to watch the action like you normally would due to regional restrictions. Fortunately, there’s an easy solution. Use a VPN to watch Alcaraz vs Djokovic for free — we’ll show you how below.
How to watch Alcaraz vs Djokovic from anywhere
Away from home at the moment and blocked from watching the Australian Open final on your usual subscription?
You can still watch Djokovic vs Alcaraz live thanks to the wonders of a VPN (Virtual Private Network). The software allows your devices to appear as if they’re back in your home country regardless of where in the world you are. So ideal for viewers away on vacation or on business. Our favorite is NordVPN. It’s the best on the market:
Using a VPN is incredibly simple.
1. Install the VPN of your choice. As we’ve said, NordVPN is our favorite.
2. Choose the location you wish to connect to in the VPN app. For instance, if you want to watch the free Australian Open final coverage on 9Now, choose ‘Australia’ from the list.
3. Sit back and enjoy the action. Head to 9Now, sign in, and watch Alcaraz vs Djokovic live.
How to watch Alcaraz vs Djokovic live streams in the U.S.
(Image credit: Shutterstock)
In the U.S., Alcaraz vs Djokovic is being shown on ESPN, ESPN2 and ESPN Unlimited.
There are many way to tune in, but we recommend Sling TV because of its cost-efficency.
The Sling Orange plan carries ESPN and ESPN2, and costs $5 per day, $10 for three days, $15/week, $46/month or $115/quarter.
Click through for more options ▼
Although Sling is the most cost-efficient option, it isn’t the only cable TV alternative you can use.
ESPN’s coverage is available to live stream on ESPN Unlimited, which costs $29.99/month or $299.99/year, but for a limited time you can bundle it with Disney Plus and Hulu for $29.99/month for 12 months, after which it’ll cost $35.99/month.
ESPN Unlimited is also carrying an animated feed.
Fubo, YouTube TV and Hulu + Live TV will let you tune in too.
How to watch Alcaraz vs Djokovic live streams in Canada
(Image credit: Shutterstock)
In Canada, the Alcaraz vs Djokovic Australian Open final is being shown on TSN and TSN Plus, which grants access to everything TSN has to offer for just CA$8/month or CA$80/year.
If you’re outside Canada but have a subscription, you can watch the tennis with the aid of a VPN, such as NordVPN.
How to watch Alcaraz vs Djokovic live streams in the U.K.
(Image credit: Shutterstock)
In the U.K., Alcaraz vs Djokovic is being shown on TNT Sports 1. Subscriptions for TNT Sports start at £18/month through Virgin Media or £25/month on Sky TV.
Alternatively, tennis fans can live stream TNT Sports via Discovery+, from £30.99/month.
Away from the U.K. right now? NordVPN will unblock your stream of the Australian Open final.
How to watch Alcaraz vs Djokovic live streams in Australia
(Image credit: Shutterstock)
There are two ways to watch Alcaraz vs Djokovic in Australia, including a FREE option.
As explained above, free-to-air Channel 9 and 9Now are showing the Australian Open final live. All you need is an account with a valid Australian postcode (e.g. NSW 2000).
You can also live stream the action in 4K and ad-free on Stan Sport. The service costs AU$20/month on top of a Stan plan, which itself starts at AU$12/month.
If you’re on holiday outside Australia, you can still follow your usual AO26 live streams by using one of the best VPN services, such as NordVPN.
Can I watch Alcaraz vs Djokovic in 4K UHD?
If you want to watch Alcaraz vs Djokovic in 4K, you’ll need Stan Sport. It offers ad-free coverage of every match on every court, with the Stan Sport add-on costing AU$20. You’ll also need a Stan base plan, which starts at AU$12/month.
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We test and review VPN services in the context of legal recreational uses. For example: 1. Accessing a service from another country (subject to the terms and conditions of that service). 2. Protecting your online security and strengthening your online privacy when abroad. We do not support or condone the illegal or malicious use of VPN services. Consuming pirated content that is paid-for is neither endorsed nor approved by Future Publishing.
