The second grand slam on the world tennis circuit is the French Open, and the 2020 edition is shaping up as one of the best in recent times. All eyes will be on Rafael Nadal as he looks to continue his masterclass on the clay court, which has seen him win eleven titles at Roland Garros, while Simona Halep will head in as favourite to retain her women’s crown.
Using this information guide you’ll be able to catch every game of 2020’s biggest clay court competition live on your TV or by streaming to your favourite mobile device.
2020 French Open TV Preview
The French Open is the third Grand Slam on the International Tennis calendar this year, and as always will be a must-watch event. Rafael Nadal, the world’s number two ranked player, has won an incredible 12 men’s titles at Rolan Garros and hasn’t been beaten in Paris for over 4 years. World number one Novak Djokovic will be his biggest threat, even if the Serb has typically struggled to outperform Nadal on clay, while world number three Dominic Thiem has shown a penchant for the surface and was beaten in the 2018 final by Nadal.
When: Sept 27 – Oct 12
Where: Roland Garros, Paris, France
On the women’s side of the event, things are looking much more open. Simona Halep is the runaway favourite, the world number two having won here last year and made the final the year before. Aussie Ashleigh Barty and Karolina Pliskova, as the world’s number one and three ranked players respectively, are expected to go deep into the tournament, while 38-year-old tennis legend Serena Williams, who has won at Roland Garros three times, is well and truly back and ready to compete.
French Open Live Daily TV Fixtures (AEST)
Monday 27 Sept – Monday 12 October
| Channel / Event | Time | Day |
|---|---|---|
| SBS of Australia Live TV | 10.15pm – 4.00am | Every Day |
| Fox Sports 505 (Foxtel / Kayo) LIVE TV | 6.30pm – 4.00am | Every Day |
Men’s and Women’s Finals Live TV Times (AEST)
| Event | Date | Time |
|---|---|---|
| Men’s Semi-finals (Day) LIVE | Saturday 10 October | 11.40pm |
| Men’s Semi-finals (Eve) LIVE | Saturday 10 October | 11.50pm |
| Women’s Finals LIVE | Sunday 11 October | 11.50pm |
| Men’s Finals LIVE | Monday 12 October | 8.20pm |
*Shown as Sydney time, adjust for regional differences. Please note that the listed French Open TV schedule is subject to change based on weather and other factors, and therefore could vary from day-to-day.
Stream the 2020 French Open Live
SBS is this year’s French Open free to air TV provider but their broadcasts do not start until 10.30pm (AEST), nearly three hours after play has begun, and their daily highlights run for less than an hour. Fox Sports of Australia (Foxtel/Kayo) however, will deliver LIVE start-to-finish coverage from the opening day until the Men’s and Women’s Singles Finals, including daily tennis TV replays for those who may have missed out.
Australian residents may wish to review the Foxtel Now 10 days free TV trial, which has No-lock in contract or equipment fees. Foxtel Now will televise the entire 2020 French Open online, and if you have to be out and about, you can conveniently stream the French Open live to eligible mobile devices within just minutes of getting started. Alternatively, Kayo Sports will be delivering the exact same coverage, and currently have a 14 days trial offering.
French Open Men’s Singles TV Preview
Rafael Nadal is a player the likes of which we’ve never seen before, and may never see again. Part of the extraordinary era of the Big Three – which has seen him, Federer and Djokovic become the three most successful players in Grand Slam history – he has had most of his success on clay, where he has won 12 of his 19 major titles. As a reference, the next highest in the Open Era is Bjorn Borg with six French Open wins. Although he is now well into his 30s, Nadal is still the best player in the world on clay, and will be expecting to win his 20th grand slam in France this year.
From an Australian perspective, the enigmatic Nick Kyrgios is the best placed to compete in the men’s draw. Few have ever doubted his ability, but Kyrgios’ temperament and at times bizarre on-court behaviour have earned him plenty of criticism. Typically, he has struggled at Roland Garros, but if he can get his mind in the right place he has the ability to beat most players in the world, regardless of the surface, and you won’t have to miss a minute of any of his French Open matches live online.
French Open Women’s Singles TV Preview
Simona Halep might stand at just 5’6″, but her aggressive baseline style of play packs a serious punch. She won her first ever Grand Slam at Roland Garros in 2018, after two unsuccessful finals appearances in 2014 and 2017. Heading into this tournament as one of the main favourites, it would surprise if her name isn’t around late in the second week.
Australian Ashleigh Barty has been playing in Grand Slam events since the age of just 15. Now 23-years-old, the last couple of years have seen her progress from participating in Grand Slams to competing in them, and at the Australian Open earlier this year she reached the Semi Final. Roland Garros was a great hunting ground for Barty in 2019, where she walked away with her first ever Grand Slam title. If you’re looking to watch her and your other favourite players you can follow the French Open on free to Air.
How to Stream the French Open in Australia
Not everyone currently has, or wants to take on the cost of a Foxtel or Telstra subscription. So with this consideration in mind, what other choices do you have when it comes to streaming the French Open, and how can you maximise their use? Let’s look at some of the best streaming options available on the Aussie market.
Apple TV
Arguably the gold-standard of the lower-profile streaming device for years now, the Apple TV is popular because it delivers. This tiny box is now in its fifth generation, and has recently added 4K and HDR streaming. You can also download apps just like you would on your phone. And that means almost every major player is supported, including the Kayo Sports streaming service and Foxtel Now.
Google Chromecast
This amazing little device now comes in two options for streaming video, both with an HDMI connection linking them to your TV. You can choose from the standard or the Google Chromecast Ultra version – the difference is that the Ultra handles 4K video, which is becoming increasingly available in Australia thanks to HD. Once plugged in and connected to your home Wi-Fi network, the device can be reached by a vast range of apps to stream video or on demand replays including Kayo Sports. While it’s not as seamless as using a dedicated device – it’s still extremely versatile.
Foxtel Now Box
Another increasingly popular streaming device option would be the Foxtel Now Box. Launched over a year ago, it delivers the easiest way to stream Foxtel Now, as well as YouTube and Stan, directly to your TV. There’s no installation required so you can immediately start streaming Roland Garros and other sport on your TV. Simply plug it in and start watching, fuss-free. Of course, you’ll need to subscribe to Foxtel Now’s Sports pack, which offers access to twelve channels including Fox Sports, Fox League, Fox Footy, ESPN, beIN Sports and all the live action available each and every week.
