The 2026 Wimbledon Championships haven't even started, but tennis fans are already sharpening their digital pitchforks. ESPN's announcement that the bulk of the tournament's matches will be locked behind its ESPN Unlimited subscription tier has ignited a firestorm of criticism, with many vowing to tune out entirely.
While stars like Novak Djokovic, Coco Gauff, and Jannik Sinner are expected to appear on ABC or ESPN, the network confirmed that every match from all 18 courts will be streamed live exclusively on its app for ESPN Unlimited subscribers. That means casual fans hoping to catch early-round action or lesser-known players will need to pony up $29.99 a month.
“Yup. Everything for exclusive rights… not consumer friendly,” one fan wrote on X. “Nope I’ll pass. I watch less Tennis than ever thanks to the merry-go-round Add coverage plan.”
The backlash comes as no surprise to those who have watched ESPN's coverage of other Grand Slams. The network's approach to the Australian Open drew similar complaints, and this year's Wimbledon rollout feels like a repeat. One fan lamented, “Ugh why do they make it more and more difficult with every tournament? I thought technology was supposed to make things easier.”
Another user compared ESPN's strategy unfavorably to Turner's coverage of the French Open, writing, “Even more so embarrassing as Turner has crushed the RG coverage the last two these years, while ESPN’s coverage of 75% of the Majors SUCK by intentional design.”
The frustration runs deep, especially for fans who prefer traditional TV viewing. “Man this sucks, won’t be seeing anything they don’t have on tv cause I don’t like streaming at all,” another fan declared.
ESPN's press release touts the partnership with Barclays and notes that ABC will broadcast select Round of 16 matches on July 5. But for many, that's not enough. The network's decision mirrors a broader trend in sports broadcasting where marquee events are increasingly used to drive streaming subscriptions—a move that often alienates longtime viewers.
This isn't the first time ESPN's coverage decisions have sparked outrage. Earlier this year, ESPN's NBA draft coverage drew similar ire, with fans calling it a snooze fest. And with Wimbledon, the network is facing another public relations headache before the first ball is even struck.
For now, tennis fans are left hoping that ESPN will reconsider its approach or at least offer more free-to-air matches. But given the network's track record, as one fan succinctly put it, “Hopefully, ESPN finds a way to give non-subscribers excellent coverage… If it’s anything like the Australian Open though, we highly doubt that’ll happen.”
