Does HBO Have Tennis? The Real Deal About Watching Tennis Tournaments on HBO

If you’ve been flipping through HBO trying to find live tennis, you’re not alone. Plenty of people assume HBO’s massive library means you’ll catch the latest Grand Slam there. Truth is, HBO doesn’t air live tennis or carry rights for the big tennis tournaments like the US Open, Wimbledon, or the Australian Open. When you search for tennis on HBO Max, you’re more likely to see a sports drama or a documentary, not a Rafael Nadal thriller on clay.

This can feel annoying—especially with so many streaming services trying to outdo each other with exclusive content. So, if tennis is your must-see sport, it’s way better to know where to actually look for your matches before game day hits. HBO just isn’t the place to go for that live adrenaline rush from the courts. But there are smart ways to stay in the loop and make sure you don’t miss out on every ace or upset.

• Is Tennis Available on HBO?
• Where to Actually Watch Tennis Tournaments
• Why HBO Doesn’t Show Tennis
• Tips to Stream Tennis Without the Hassle

Is Tennis Available on HBO?

If you're hoping to catch live tennis matches on HBO or HBO Max, you’re out of luck. HBO hasn't ever held rights to show top professional tennis tournaments. You won’t find live coverage of the US Open, French Open, Wimbledon, or any big events on their platform. That’s just how their lineup is set up—they focus on movies, original series, and documentaries, not sports broadcasting.

You might run into a tennis-themed documentary or a scene in a drama series, but actual professional matches? Those are nowhere to be seen on HBO. For folks searching for "Does HBO have tennis?" the short answer is just a straight-up no.

If you dig through HBO Max’s library, you’ll spot some classic sports documentaries—like the "Andre the Giant" doc for wrestling fans—but nothing for tennis. HBO’s sports content leans way more into boxing, NFL, or shows like "Real Sports with Bryant Gumbel." They haven't picked up rights to streaming or airing tennis tournaments as of April 2025.

• No live tennis coverage on HBO or HBO Max as of April 2025.
• No on-demand replays of ATP, WTA, or Grand Slam tournaments.
• Occasional documentaries or films that might feature tennis—nothing geared toward fans wanting to watch full matches.

So, if you’re keeping your HBO subscription just in case the next Wimbledon pops up, you can stop hoping. HBO just isn’t in the tennis broadcast game. All the real tennis action is handled by other networks and platforms.

Where to Actually Watch Tennis Tournaments

If you’re chasing live tennis matches or the major tennis tournaments, skip HBO and check out these actual streaming platforms that own the rights. In the US, ESPN is basically the king when it comes to Grand Slam action. ESPN and ESPN2 show the Australian Open, Wimbledon, and the US Open, plus you can also find matches on ESPN Deportes if you prefer Spanish commentary.

When it comes to the French Open, it’s a mix of NBC Sports and the Tennis Channel. The Tennis Channel also covers a stack of ATP and WTA events throughout the year, so it’s kind of a must-have for hardcore fans. CBS used to be a big player, but now it's all cable or streaming with passwords or subscriptions. Here’s a quick breakdown of where the top tournaments actually stream:

• Australian Open: ESPN, ESPN2, ESPN Plus
• French Open (Roland Garros): NBC Sports, Peacock, Tennis Channel
• Wimbledon: ESPN, ESPN2, ESPN Plus
• US Open: ESPN, ESPN2, ESPN Plus
• ATP/WTA Tours: Tennis Channel, Tennis Channel Plus

Don’t want to mess with cable? Streaming-only packages like Sling TV, Hulu + Live TV, FuboTV, and YouTube TV all carry ESPN, and most toss in Tennis Channel as part of some higher or sports-focused bundles. Just double-check which channels are in your plan before you subscribe—some streaming services split their sports channels up, and Tennis Channel isn’t always standard.

If you’re outside the US, check out Eurosport for major European coverage, or look for your country’s local broadcaster. Tennis is one of those sports where streaming deals change a lot, so it’s smart to check just before your favorite tournament. For super fans, Tennis TV (for ATP events) or WTA TV (for WTA events) are solid—those services are made for watching nonstop tennis, no cable required.

Why HBO Doesn’t Show Tennis

First off, HBO just isn’t set up for live sports like tennis. Instead, HBO has built its reputation on drama series, original movies, documentaries, and comedy specials. When you think HBO, you probably picture “Game of Thrones,” not Serena Williams’ comeback win. Live sports—especially something as schedule-heavy as major tennis tournaments—just isn’t their thing.

Broadcast rights play a huge role too. The biggest tennis tournaments—think Wimbledon, US Open, French Open, and Australian Open—sell their broadcasting rights to networks that specialize in live sports coverage. In the U.S., ESPN and Tennis Channel are the main go-tos for live tennis. These networks have the production crews, sports analysts, and on-the-ground coverage to keep up with full tournament slates. HBO doesn’t have that setup, and their investment is focused elsewhere.

There’s also the business side. Deals for major sports rights are super expensive. ESPN paid roughly $770 million to extend their US Open deal through 2025. That’s real money. HBO, owned by Warner Bros. Discovery, has focused on producing prestige TV instead of dropping massive cash on sports rights bids. For reference, check out this quick comparison:

So if you’re wondering why you can’t just pull up HBO and catch the finals, it all boils down to focus, expertise, and (a lot of) money. Unless HBO changes their whole game plan and invests in live tennis rights, the service is likely to stick to what it does best: TV for binge-watchers, not live sports fans.

Tips to Stream Tennis Without the Hassle

Let’s be real—hunting down live tennis tournaments can feel like a wild goose chase, especially if you’re used to streaming everything on HBO. If you don’t want to miss a single rally or a dramatic tie-break, here are some smart, practical ways to watch without losing your mind or your money.

• Pick the right streaming service: In the US, ESPN and Tennis Channel have the bulk of live tennis rights for all the majors except the French Open, which you’ll find on NBC and Peacock. Outside the US, services like Eurosport (UK and Europe) and Stan Sport (Australia) are your main bets. Skip HBO if tennis is your thing.
• Try free trials: ESPN+ and Sling TV often offer free trials or cheap first months. If you only care about big tournaments, you can hop on for a slam and cancel after.
• Know your device options: Most big providers work on smart TVs, Apple TV, Roku, Fire Stick, even your phone or tablet. You don’t need cable boxes or satellite dishes anymore.
• Use official tournament apps: The ATP and WTA have their own apps with highlights, live scores, and sometimes free match streams. The Grand Slam tournaments all offer official apps too—these are clutch for keeping tabs on upsets and scores in real time.
• Watch replays and highlights: Not every match airs live unless you pay for the pricier packages, but you can always catch highlights or full replays on YouTube (look for official channels) or the streaming provider’s on-demand library.

If you’re curious about how much you’re really saving using streaming versus cable, here’s a simple comparison:

Keep in mind, prices do change and tournaments can swap platforms next season, so double check before a Grand Slam starts. Don’t get caught scrambling for last-minute sign-ups. And remember, HBO isn’t even in the tennis game—so put your dollars towards a platform that actually serves your favorite matches.