Where to watch Kostyuk vs Sloane Stephens at US Open 2026
Sloane Stephens faces Marta Kostyuk in the US Open 2026 second round on Wednesday at about 1 p.m. ET on Louis Armstrong Stadium. US fans can watch on ESPN; UK viewers need Sky or Now TV. The former champion enters as a heavy underdog against the in-form Ukrainian No. 11 seed.
Key Takeaways
- Wildcard Sloane Stephens, a former US Open champion, meets No. 11 Marta Kostyuk in round two in New York.
- The match is second on Louis Armstrong Stadium, roughly 1 p.m. ET / 18:30 BST on Wednesday.
- US coverage is listed on ESPN; UK viewers need a Sky or Now TV subscription.
- Kostyuk leads the head-to-head 1-0 and is a massive favorite on the DraftKings board.
- Analysts still see a path for Stephens to take a set in front of a home crowd.
Day four of the season’s final Grand Slam sets up a second-round blockbuster: seeded Ukrainian Marta Kostyuk against American wildcard Sloane Stephens on hard courts outdoors.
For more sports-meets-culture coverage, browse our Bizarre World hub on BlasterPost.
Where can you watch Kostyuk vs Stephens live?
According to Action Network, the clash is scheduled for Wednesday at approximately 1 p.m. ET and is listed for ESPN in the United States.
Britwatch Sports reports the match as second on Louis Armstrong Stadium at 18:30 BST, with UK coverage on Sky/Now TV requiring a subscription.
Prize money for the round is listed at $190,000, per Britwatch Sports match fundamentals.
Why does this second-round clash matter?
Kostyuk has produced a career-defining season, reaching the Roland Garros and Wimbledon semifinals and posting strong results on the North American hard courts in Canada and Cincinnati.
Sloane Stephens won the US Open title eight years ago. At 33, she is returning from injury and sits outside the world’s top 200, yet arrived with form from Cincinnati and stunned Clara Tauson in the opening round.
Britwatch notes that every recent loss for Kostyuk has come against the eventual champion—an unusual streak that underlines how deep her runs have been this year.
Stephens’ athleticism and power make her a dangerous proposition if she can force Kostyuk to defend and use the drop shot to drag the Ukrainian forward.
Who is favored between Kostyuk and Sloane Stephens?
Kostyuk leads the head-to-head 1-0. DraftKings odds cited by Action Network make her a heavy favorite at -1040, with Stephens at +599; the game spread is Kostyuk -5.5 and the total sits at 18.5 games.
Action Network’s Tudor Cosma still sees value on Stephens to win a set (+162 at bet365), citing her opening-round form and a home crowd on Louis Armstrong—while calling a full upset very unlikely.
Britwatch Sports predicts Kostyuk in straight sets, expecting her aggressive serve and forehand to dictate play as she looks toward a first Grand Slam title.