The Roland-Garros French Open is one of the most prestigious and biggest tennis tournaments globally. It will start on May 28 and end on June 11, 2023, involving the best tennis players worldwide.
The event is accessible on various streaming platforms and TV stations, which are mostly geo-blocked. It means that you won’t watch your favorite matches if you are in the wrong country.
Thankfully, you can use a VPN to avoid restrictions and stream every French Open match from anywhere. You only need to connect to a server in a country where the tournament is available.
In this article, we will show you how to watch French Open with a VPN, how to select the best VPN for French Open, and much more.
Quick steps to watch French Open from anywhere
- Choose a reliable VPN service – The VPN should have a proven record of bypassing geo-restrictions, does not collect users’ logs, and uses dependable encryption. We recommend ExpressVPN.
- Download and install – Head over to the VPN’s official website and download the right app for your device. For example, download the Android app if you use an Android smartphone.
- Connect to a suitable server location – Launch the VPN and connect to a server in the country where the French Open broadcast is available. America is one of the countries with broadcasting channels, for example.
- Head to a streaming channel – Go to YouTube TV, NBC Sports, Eurosport, or Hulu With Live TV, and start enjoying the match.
If you go with any of our recommended VPNs, you can use the money-back guarantee to test the service before fully committing to it.
A quick list of our top VPNs
- ExpressVPN – This VPN support multiple platforms, such as Android, iOS, Linux, Windows, and macOS. With a monthly deal of $6.67, you enjoy fast speeds, a variety of server networks, and top-notch security features.
- Private Internet Access (PIA) – Extensive server network of more than 33,000 servers and offer support for various devices, such as Windows, Android, macOS, and iOS. Service starts at $2.03 monthly subscription.
- NordVPN – The service starts at a $2.99 monthly subscription and is compatible with various devices, including Windows, iOS, Android, Linux, macOS, TVs, and routers. In addition, it provides users with fast speeds, extensive server networks, and strong encryption features.
How does a French Open work?
French Open work is almost similar to Grand Slam tournaments. The key differences are tiebreakers and the fact that it’s played on clay courts which makes the ball slower since the ball bounces higher compared to hard courts.
The limited effectiveness of power servers makes them more forgiving than other courts. Additionally, a new regulation is in place that permits players just 25 seconds before serving. Further, the French Open is the only Grand Slam competition in which players who desire to contest line calls cannot do so using Hawk-Eye or Shot Spot review equipment.
The tournament kicks off with the qualifying stages. With a total of 104 men and 108 women qualifying this year, the field will be narrowed down over a series of games to a final 16. However, some star players like Rafael Nadal are called up directly without having to qualify. After that, things are straightforward: whoever finishes each round with the most points advances, while everyone else is eliminated. The process repeats itself until only one player is left who is crowned the French Open winner and awarded €2,300,000.
Where to watch the French Open Roland-Garros in 2023
A few options available if you are a tennis fan and don’t know where to watch the French Open. Unfortunately, some of them may not be inaccessible in your country. So, you might need a reliable VPN to access any streaming service from any country. Here are some of the popular platforms that broadcast the French Open.
| Platform | Payment method | Free trial | Available languages |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fox Sports (Australia) | Free | NA | English, Dutch, Portuguese, Spanish |
| Eurosport (Europe) | PayPal | No | English, Portuguese, Hungarian, Italian, French, Norwegian |
| Bein Sports | US credit/debit cards | 14 days | English, Arabic, French, Turkish |
| Sling TV (US) | US credit card | 3 days | Over 200 languages |
| DirecTV (US) | Credit card | 7 days | Chinese, Korean, Portuguese, Filipino, Italian |
| NBC Sports (US) | Credit card | 30 days | English |
| RDS (Canada) | Canadian Credit Card | No | French |
| ITV Hub (UK) | Free | NA | English |
| SGR SSR (Switzerland) | Free | NA | English, Italian, French, German, Romansh |
| SBS (Australia) | Free | NA | English |
A VPN is a great way to access these channels from anywhere. However, it has to be a reliable service with high-quality servers that can bypass geo-blocks of all major streaming sites. ExpressVPN boasts a 30-day money-back guarantee, which allows you to test the service risk-free and ask for a refund if not satisfied.
Is a VPN necessary to watch the French Open online?
Certain broadcasters, streaming services, and Television channels have exclusive rights to air sporting events like the French Open. However, these platforms are only available in specific countries because of the strict licensing agreements.
As a result, you might be able to enjoy the event if they are not accessible in your region. For example, your connection will be blocked if you try to use a French streaming service when in the US.