How To Watch Wimbledon Online, No Matter Where You Are
How To Watch Wimbledon Online, No Matter Where You Are
If you’re a tennis fanatic (or you just get a kick out of hearing tennis players yell every time they slam a ball), then you’re probably well acquainted with Wimbledon. It’s, by far, the largest tennis competition in the world and has been hosted in the small town of Wimbledon in London since 1877. That’s nearly 150 years straight! Few other sporting events can claim that type of history.
Every year, tennis fans from around the world flock to the UK to view or take part in the tennis championship. Hosted annually between late June and early July, it’s one of the single biggest contributors to summer tourism in the city.
From singles matches to doubles matches, they’re all hosted on Wimbledon’s iconic hard grass courts. Unlike the clay courts typically found in the US and Australia, Wimbledon’s grass courts offer quite a spectacle for viewers, especially when they’re wet and slippery.
If you’re reading this post right now, then the chances are that you’re wanting to watch the match but don’t know how to. Unfortunately, if you’re not located in the US or the UK, you’ll probably have some trouble viewing the match as it’s almost exclusively streamed by ESPN+ (a streaming service that’s only available in the US).
So, in today’s post, we’re going to show you how to break the rules like a pro and watch Wimbledon from anywhere in the world. Tennis is a great sport, and we believe that everybody should be able to watch the matches!
How To Watch Wimbledon From Anywhere Using A VPN
We’re all about breaking the rules. Of course, we always encourage you to be ethical when it comes to using your VPN. However, we kind of think that it’s unethical of streaming platforms to geo-block certain countries from being able to watch the match.
So, here we are; giving you instructions on how to watch Wimbledon from anywhere in the world. All you need is a high-quality, reputable VPN like ExpressVPN or ZenMate. All of that being said, here’s the low-down on how to break the rules like a pro…
1. Download A Reputable VPN Service: First things first, none of this is possible without the help of a VPN. That is unless you want to fly out to a country where Wimbledon is streaming (but you wouldn’t be here if that was your plan, would you?).
So, what does a VPN do? Well, in layman’s terms, it re-routes all of your internet data and traffic through a country of your choosing. This has a number of security benefits, but it also allows you to mask your location, and make it appear as if you’re logging into the platform from an entirely different country. Pretty cool, right?
If you’re looking for a good VPN, we have a whole list of the top-10 VPNs on the market here. You’ll be able to compare and contrast plans to see which ones are best for you. Generally speaking, though, most VPNs are pretty affordable.
2. Access A US-Based Server: Once your VPN is all set up and ready to go, you’ll want to shut down your internet browser and connect your VPN to a US-based server. These are usually abundant, and you’ll be able to select from a number of different servers throughout major US cities. It doesn’t really matter which one you choose, as long as it’s in the United States. Here’s how it should look:
3. Sign-Up For ESPN+: Now that you’re connected to your US server, you can log in to ESPN+ and create an account. Typically, the streaming service is only available to US-based users. Since you’re accessing the internet through a US server, though, the platform will think that you’re actually in the United States, allowing you to create an account.
4. Figure Out Wimbledon Streaming Times: ESPN+ typically offers both live sports streaming as well as allowing to view re-runs. If you’re trying to see the match live, then you’ll probably need to figure out the streaming times and do the math, depending on your time zone. If not, just watch the re-run.
5. Watch The Match: Now that you’re all setup with ESPN+ and your VPN connection, you can watch the entirety of the Wimbledon match, no matter where you are in the world. Just make sure to keep your VPN on for the entire duration you’re using the streaming platform. Otherwise, it may detect that your IP has changed and ban your account or stop streaming.
Why Isn’t Wimbledon Available Worldwide?
So, why isn’t the Wimbledon tournament available for worldwide viewing? You’d think for a sport as big and important as tennis, that it’d be easier to view, right? Well, it mostly has to do with the various copyright and streaming agreements that various media channels have come up with.
Simply put, television networks and streaming services pay A LOT of money to the hosts of Wimbledon to be allowed to stream the matches on their platform. This is part of what contributes to their own increased viewership and on-the-spot sign-ups.
Essentially, it allows certain major streaming platforms to make bank on a major sporting event. If you happen to be located somewhere outside of the range of one of these major streaming platforms… well, you’re kind of out of luck. Unless, of course, you’re using a VPN service.
Can ESPN+ Tell If I’m Using A VPN?
Usually not. As long as you’re using a high-quality VPN and your connection is secure and solid, then your IP address should remain consistent. To prevent the ESPN+ streaming platform from getting suspicious, we recommend using the same US-based VPN server each and every time that you log in to ESPN+. It might look fishy if you’re constantly bouncing from one server to another every time you log in.
Is It Legal To Use A VPN For Out-of-Country Streaming?
Yes, using a VPN is completely legal and you’ll never be arrested or ticketed for it. That being said, it does violate the user agreement and terms of most streaming services. If you are found out to be using a VPN to mask your real location, then the streaming platform can permanently ban your account.
If this happens, though, just create a new email, sign up for a new account, and access the platform from a different US-based VPN server offered by your VPN service.
What Else Can I Use My VPN For?
After Wimbledon is over, you may be thinking to yourself, “Well, that was fun… are there any other uses for this VPN or should I just go ahead and delete it?”
As it turns out, there are lots of great uses for a VPN. In fact, the biggest reason why people download VPNs, to begin with, is that they dramatically increase your online security and privacy. When you use a VPN while accessing the internet, here’s how you can benefit:
- Government agencies can’t track your activity.
- Hackers on public internet networks can’t get into your device and steal information.
- Your device’s webcam can’t be hacked to spy on you.
- Ad agencies can’t track your device and use your activity to spam you later on.
Pretty cool, right? So, if you’re ready to take your internet security to the next level, then you can’t go wrong with a VPN. Not only will it allow you to access streaming platforms in other countries, but it will also give you the confidence you need to browse the internet without worrying about any other third-parties spying on you!