Zheng vs Sabalenka live stream — watch Australian Open 2024 final online, defending champion wins first set

Qinwen Zheng reaches for a forehand at the Australian Open 2024

(Image credit: Getty Images / Andy Cheung)

Watch a Zheng vs Sabalenka live stream

Aryna Sabalenka has made the perfect start in the defense of her title, winning the first set 6-3. Can she now become the first player since Victoria Azarenka (2012-2013) to win consecutive Australian Open women's singles titles? Or will Zheng find a way back into the match?

The Zheng vs Sabalenka live stream will be shown for free on 9Now in Australia. In the US, you can watch the match on ESPN, while in the UK and across Europe it is on Discovery Plus. It's TSN in Canada and Sky Sport in New Zealand. Away from home? Use a VPN to unblock your usual service.

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Date: Saturday, January 27

Time: Not before 8.30am GMT / 3.30am ET / 12.30am PT / 7.30pm AEDT

FREE live stream: 9Now (AUS)

Use ExpressVPN to watch your usual stream from abroad

Zheng vs Sabalenka preview

Qinwen Zheng vs Aryna Sabalenka may not be the Australian Open 2024 women's singles final that many would have predicted a couple of weeks ago, but there's no doubt that the tournament's two best players feature. The fearless Zheng is competing in her first major showpiece, while defending champion Sabalenka has the experience and power game. Don't miss it.

There's a sense of destiny to Zheng's run to the final. Ten years on from compatriot Li Na's Australian Open crown, the Chinese has been in fine form this tournament, dropping only two sets. Though yet to face a seed, the 21-year-old's mega-spin forehand is reminiscent of peak Rafa Nadal for its rotation and, having reunited with coach Pere Riba she's reached a career-high ranking of 15. "I have to stick to my tennis and forget about the emotions," said Zheng. "I'll fight."

Sabalenka's 7-6, 6-4 semi-final defeat of Coco Gauff laid to rest the ghosts of letting a set lead slip against the American in the US Open final last fall. The 25-year-old's dominant ground strokes were much to the fore against Gauff, as they have been all tournament with her yet to drop a set. The errors that occasionally creep in under pressure have been absent and the defending champion looks in ominous form.

Sabalenka won the only previous meeting between the players. Follow our guide as we explain how you can watch today's Zheng vs Sabalenka live stream and watch Australian Open 2024 from wherever you are now.

How to live stream Zheng vs Sabalenka for FREE

Tennis fans in Australia are amongst the luckiest in the world, as they can watch Zheng vs Sabalenka and the rest of Australian Open 2024 on 9Gem.

That means viewers can also fire up a FREE Zheng vs Sabalenka live stream on the 9Now streaming service, which is compatible with most smart devices. Currently away from Australia?

Use a VPN to watch Zheng vs Sabalenka on 9Now from abroad.

Die-hard tennis fans might also want to take a look at Stan Sport, which is live streaming every match on every court, ad-free.

A subscription costs $15 per month (on top of a $10 Stan sub).

How to watch Zheng vs Sabalenka from outside your country

For broadcast and streaming details in more tennis-mad countries like the US, Australia, Canada and New Zealand, just scroll down the page – everything you need to know is there, including details of who's showing Zheng vs Sabalenka.

But if you try to watch your domestic coverage from anywhere outside your home country, you'll soon find a problem - geo-blocking. That's where the broadcaster prevents you from watching your usual feed from abroad. It's a common problem for sports fans all over the world.

By downloading and installing a VPN, you can effectively trick your computer into thinking that it's back at home.

Use a VPN to watch a Zheng vs Sabalenka live stream from anywhere:

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How to watch Zheng vs Sabalenka from outside your country

Using a VPN is as easy as one-two-three...

1. Download and install a VPN – as we say, our top choice is ExpressVPN.

2. Connect to the appropriate server location - open the VPN app, hit 'choose location' and select the appropriate location, eg: 'Australia' for 9Now.

3. Go to the broadcaster's stream - head to your home broadcaster's site or app and watch as if you were at home – 9Now for Brits abroad.

How to watch Zheng vs Sabalenka: live stream tennis in the US without cable

US TV coverage of the Australian Open 2024 is convoluted to say the least, but the important things to note are that, while selected matches, the finals and semi-finals are being shown by ESPN, the most comprehensive coverage comes from ESPN Plus, which is showing every AO stream.

Zheng vs Sabalenka is scheduled to start no earlier than 3.30am ET / 12.30am PT in the early hours of Saturday morning.

How to watch Zheng vs Sabalenka without cable:

OTT streaming service Sling TV is reasonably priced and includes ESPN, ESPN 2 and ESPN 3 as part of its Sling Orange package in most major markets. The usual cost is $40 a month, but if you're new to the service you can get 50% off your first month.

Alternatively, Fubo is a much more comprehensive cable replacement, that includes ESPN, ESPN 2 and ABC, as well as more than 100 additional channels including Fox, NBC and CBS.

Prices start at $79.99 a month after a FREE Fubo trial.

Meanwhile, ESPN Plus monthly plans cost $10.99 a month, while the cost-saving annual subscription is priced at $109.99 a year.

But there's even better value to be had if you grab ESPN+ as part of the big Disney Plus Bundle. As well as ESPN Plus live sports and documentaries, you'll get access to the hugely impressive Disney Plus catalog, which features Marvel movies, every Simpsons episode ever, the complete Star Wars canon, Pixar films, and much more, plus all the great shows and movies that Hulu offers.

And the cost is super reasonable - you only have to pay $14.99 a month for the Disney Plus bundle (with ads).

How to watch Zheng vs Sabalenka: live stream Australian Open in the UK

The Australian Open is no longer on free-to-air TV in the UK. Instead, tennis fans need to subscribe to Eurosport or its streaming arm Discovery+ to tune watch Zheng vs Sabalenka, which will start no earlier than 8.30am GMT on Saturday morning.

A subscription costs £6.99 per month or £59.99 for the year, and lets you tune in on a wide range of devices, as well as the Eurosport TV channels.

If you’re out of the UK but still want to watch, make sure you use a VPN to watch Gauff vs Sabalenka free on Discovery+ from abroad.

How to live stream Zheng vs Sabalenka and watch tennis online in Canada

In Canada, you can watch Zheng vs Sabalenka on TSN, but be warned that play is scheduled for no earlier than 3.30am ET / 12.30am PT early on Saturday morning.

If you get TSN as part of your cable deal, you'll be able to log in with the details of your provider for access to a Zheng vs Sabalenka live stream.

If you don't have cable, live streaming is available via TSN Plus for $8.99 per month plus tax.

If you're unable to watch the match due to geo-blocking restrictions, remember that a VPN is all you need to tune back into your preferred Zheng vs Sabalenka coverage wherever you are.

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Andy Murray is an award-winning sports writer and columnist. A fluent Spanish speaker and former semi-professional footballer, he was senior staff writer of world-leading football magazine FourFourTwo for seven years and continues to write and edit for them, national newspapers, websites and Premier League clubs. He is not a famous tennis player.