Скачать или смотреть ESPN Sparks Outrage at Australian Open | Fans Furious Over Paywall & Virtual Golf Coverage

American tennis fans are furious — and they’re letting ESPN hear it loud and clear.
At the peak of the 2026 Australian Open, with blockbuster matches lighting up Melbourne Park , viewers in the U.S. tuned in expecting live Grand Slam action… only to be greeted by virtual golf instead. Yes, you read that right.
During the highly anticipated Aryna Sabalenka vs Iva Jovic quarterfinal, ESPN2 aired alternative programming while pushing fans toward a costly upgrade to ESPN Unlimited ($29.99/month) 💸. For longtime ESPN+ subscribers, this sudden shift felt like a betrayal — and social media exploded .
Fans questioned why: Premium tennis was sidelined
Matches were locked behind new paywalls
ESPN+ suddenly offered less tennis than before
Meanwhile, Sabalenka delivered a dominant performance in scorching Melbourne heat ☀️, becoming just the third woman in history to reach 8+ consecutive hard-court Grand Slam semifinals — an achievement many Americans couldn’t even watch live.
This controversy adds fuel to ongoing criticism of ESPN’s tennis coverage, following: Analyst departures
Questionable broadcast decisions
Past player-treatment backlash
As tennis fights for mainstream relevance in the U.S., moments like this risk alienating its most loyal fans. When viewers stay up all night for a Grand Slam, access shouldn’t depend on another subscription tier.
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