Birrell vs. Pegula 2026 Livestream: How to Watch the French Open Free

Jessica Pegula faces Kimberly Birrell in the first round of the 2026 French Open, adding another notable matchup to the women’s draw at Roland-Garros. Pegula, the world’s No. 5 seed, arrives in Paris looking to build on recent Grand Slam momentum after reaching the semifinals of the Australian Open. The American has yet to win a major title, but her status as one of the leading players in the women’s game makes her one of the most closely watched competitors in the tournament’s opening round.

Birrell, ranked 28 years old and representing Australia, enters the match with a point to prove. She has not advanced beyond the first round at Roland-Garros in the past, but the matchup against a top-five seed gives her a chance to test herself on one of tennis’s biggest stages. With a home-region broadcaster carrying the action for free, the match is drawing attention from viewers looking for accessible live coverage.

For fans wanting to watch Birrell vs. Pegula without paying, the match is available to stream free on 9Now. The platform is geo-restricted to Australia, but viewers outside the country can access it by using a VPN service. A VPN can mask a user’s real IP address and connect them to a server in Australia, making it possible to stream the match as if they were located there.

The process is straightforward: sign up for a streaming-friendly VPN, download the app to a supported device, connect to an Australian server, and then open 9Now to watch the French Open live. The article notes that while the best VPNs for streaming are not free, many offer money-back guarantees, which can provide temporary access without a long-term commitment.

Among the VPN options highlighted, ExpressVPN is presented as the top choice for bypassing geo-restrictions and streaming live sport. It offers servers in 105 countries, apps for major devices including iPhone, Android, Windows, and Mac, a strict no-logging policy, fast connection speeds, up to 10 simultaneous connections, and a 30-day money-back guarantee. The service is also being promoted with a limited-time discount on its two-year plan, along with four extra months free and additional cloud backup.

The article frames the Birrell vs. Pegula matchup as part of the early top-seed action at the 2026 French Open, with free viewing available through 9Now for those able to access it via VPN. For tennis fans following the opening round, it offers a way to watch one of the tournament’s seeded players begin her campaign at Roland-Garros without a paid broadcast subscription.