The 2014 U.S. Open final will be held today at Arthur Ashe Stadium in Flushing Meadows Park, Queens. However, this match doesn’t feature any of the sport’s biggest stars. If you need a way to watch or follow the match online, this is the guide for you.
But first, here’s a brief primer on the U.S. Open Final match.
| Marin Cilic vs. Kei Nishikori – 5:00 p.m. ET | Once Novak Djokovic, arguably the best player in the world, and Roger Federer, a tennis legend in his own right, both reached the U.S. Open semis, the general assumption was that both would advance and face each other in the final.Wrong!
Enter Marin Cilic, and Kei Nishikori, who each scored huge upsets in their respective semi-final matches to reach this year’s U.S. Open final. Cilic ousted Federer in straight sets, while Nishikori needed four sets to dispatch Djokovic, both of which were stunning conclusions to those matches. To this point, neither Cilic nor Nishikori have ever won a Grand Slam tournament. Heck, neither has even reached a Grand Slam final before. Today, a new U.S. Open champion will be crowned, and we’re just hours away from finding out who it will be. |
If, for whatever reason, you can’t park yourself in front of a TV to watch the 2014 US Open final, keep reading. Here, we’ll show you how to keep track of all the action online.
Toward that end, we put together this simple guide on how to catch all the games. Whether you prefer to listen or watch, we’ve got you covered.
Network Sites
The US Open’s site streams several matches as they happen. With seven show courts represented on the site, you’ll never miss your favorite player’s matches throughout the tournament. The two center stage courts — Arthur Ashe Stadium and Louis Armstrong Stadium — headline the US Open’s online coverage, so you’ll always have access to each day’s top match-ups.
The US Open’s partnership with IBM provides fans with match-related data, which adds an extra dimension to the experience. IBM’s SlamTracker makes constant updates to each player’s chance of winning, what they need to do to swing the advantage in their favor, and up-to-the-second match statistics as well. Veteran tennis watchers will welcome the added information, while novice viewers can gain even more insight about the sport.
Because of this, US Open’s site remains the best way to follow the tournament.
ESPN is set to stream the 2014 US Open through WatchESPN. However, you’ll only be able to watch the streams by providing an account name and password associated with a cable TV subscription. If you subscribe to Comcast, Dish Network, DirecTV, or a host of other providers (or know someone who does), simply enter your account information after you click on a WatchESPN stream, and you’ll be all set.
Similar to ESPN’s streaming option, the Tennis Channel provides subscription based access to most of the 2014 US Open. People with Dish Network, DirecTV, or Verizon have access to any matches airing on the tennis-only channel.
Questionable streaming sites
There exist a wide variety of online streaming sites which grant access to many live sporting events. These sites provide largely unrestricted streaming, but keep in mind that most come packed with spam and pop-up windows. We don’t recommend these streaming sites. Even the slightest miscalculated click can infect your computer with a nasty virus.
Sites like First Row Sports or VIPBox Sports are some of the most popular when it comes to streaming sporting events online. While these might be of use, the hassle of avoiding spam and dealing with low quality streams often make these services more of an inconvenience than a help.
As a rule of thumb, never click on any link which asks you to download any HD Players, update your streaming software, or to install any “required” media players. These are often just spam links which could infect your computer with viruses.
Other resources
If you’re at work and can’t keep your eyes glued to a screen, an audio stream might be the way for you to go. With continuous tournament coverage, listeners have access to live match calls, player interviews, and a Q&A feature. Simply submit any questions you have via the US Open website, and the expert announcers may answer yours live on the air.
An incredible resource for information about almost anything, Reddit has more than enough tennis information to satisfy any fan. Reddit’s loyal user base generates all of the content you’ll find on the site, which is both a blessing, and a curse. You’ll find a litany of US Open pictures, videos, and more. While it is a great resource for anything and everything tennis, you can easily waste many hours poking around the rest of the site as well.
Related: Manchester United bans fans from taking laptops and tablets to games
[Header image courtesy of: Shutterstock/lev radin]
