The US Open order of play is the tournament’s official daily timetable. It lists the matches assigned to each court, the order in which they will be played and any fixed or earliest possible start times.
It is not created automatically from the draw. Tournament officials build each day’s schedule after considering the matches due to be played, player recovery requirements, singles and doubles commitments, court availability, weather disruption and the needs of each session. High-profile matchups and broadcast considerations can influence show-court placement, but there is no public formula that guarantees a player a particular court or time.
What Is the US Open Order of Play?
The order of play tells players and spectators what is scheduled for a specific day. It normally includes every match across the main stadiums and outer courts, covering the competitions taking place at that stage of the tournament.
It is different from both the tournament schedule and the draw.
| Document | What It Shows |
|---|---|
| Tournament schedule | The rounds and sessions planned for each date |
| Draw | Each player’s position and possible route through the competition |
| Order of play | The matches, courts, sequence and timing for one day |
The distinction matters because a draw cannot provide exact match times. Tennis is a knockout competition, so the next matchup depends on earlier results. The length of those matches, weather delays and withdrawals can also affect what must be scheduled next.
This daily process is common at single-elimination events, although other types of tennis tournaments and how they work can require different scheduling systems.
Who Makes the US Open Order of Play?
Each Grand Slam tournament is responsible for its own match schedule. Scheduling decisions are made in consultation between the Tournament Director, Referee, Grand Slam Chief of Supervisors, player representatives and other relevant parties.
The Referee has a particularly important role. Preparing the daily order of play, assigning matches to specific courts and deciding when play should be postponed or moved are among the Referee’s responsibilities.
This means the schedule is not chosen by the Tournament Director alone. It is also not dictated independently by the ATP, WTA, a broadcaster or an automated ranking system.
Officials must work within the Grand Slam regulations and the wider rules that govern professional tennis. Once those sporting requirements have been met, they can consider factors such as spectator interest, session structure and broadcasting.
How the Daily Order of Play Is Built
The exact discussion takes place behind the scenes, but the schedule must solve the same practical problems each day.
1. Officials Identify the Matches That Are Due
The starting point is the tournament’s planned round structure. Officials identify which singles, doubles, junior and wheelchair matches are due to be completed on the following day.
Results determine the actual matchups. A fourth-round match, for example, cannot be confirmed until both players have finished their third-round matches.
Suspended matches must also be added back to the program. A rain delay or late finish can therefore place extra pressure on courts that were already expected to host a full schedule.
Withdrawals and walkovers may remove matches from the original plan. If a withdrawal occurs early enough for a replacement to be permitted under the competition rules, the schedule may instead need to display the replacement player.
2. Player Rest and Other Matches Are Checked
Officials cannot assign matches only according to which court is open. They must also account for how recently each player competed and whether that player remains involved in another event.
Under Grand Slam rules, players are ordinarily scheduled for no more than one singles match and one doubles match per day. Weather or another unavoidable disruption can create exceptions.
A player’s next match should not normally be scheduled less than 12 hours after the completion of their previous match on the preceding day or round. Singles is also normally placed before doubles when a player is due to contest both on the same day, unless the Referee directs otherwise.
If two matches must be played on one day, the minimum rest period depends on the duration of the first match.
| Length of First Match | Minimum Rest |
|---|---|
| Less than 1 hour | 30 minutes |
| Between 1 hour and 1 hour 30 minutes | 1 hour |
| More than 1 hour 30 minutes | 1 hour 30 minutes |
These are scheduling minimums, not a claim that a player will be fully recovered. Professional recovery can continue long after leaving the court, which is one reason players often use a stationary bike after a match.
Qualifying creates another possible complication. A player who reaches the main draw through qualifying should normally receive at least 12 hours between the end of the final qualifying match and the first main-draw match.
3. Matches Are Divided Among Courts and Sessions
Once the eligible matches are known, officials must assign them across the available courts. The early rounds require the greatest number of courts because hundreds of singles and doubles players remain in the tournament.
Arthur Ashe Stadium, Louis Armstrong Stadium and Grandstand receive many of the leading matches. The outer courts accommodate much of the remaining early-round schedule and can also stage notable singles matches.
The court decision is not based on ranking alone. Officials may consider:
- The profile and ranking of the players
- How competitive or significant the matchup appears
- Former champions and established crowd favorites
- American players and other local-interest stories
- Expected spectator demand
- Day and night-session requirements
- Broadcast windows
- A player’s recent schedule
- Weather and roof availability
A top seed is likely to appear regularly on a show court, but no published rule gives that player an automatic right to Arthur Ashe Stadium or a night session. An unseeded match with a compelling storyline can receive a larger court, while a seed may be placed elsewhere.
The complete guide to the US Open explains the venue and ticketed-session structure in more detail.
4. Each Court’s Match Sequence Is Chosen
Assigning a match to a court is only part of the process. Officials must also decide whether it will open play, follow another match or have an earliest possible start time.
The first match on a court usually receives a stated start time. Later matches are commonly listed as “followed by” because their start depends on when the previous match finishes.
Officials can estimate how long a match may take, but tennis has no fixed match clock. A straight-sets contest may finish quickly, while long sets, repeated deuces and tie-breaks can keep the same court occupied for several hours. Understanding how the tennis scoring system works makes this uncertainty easier to appreciate.
The format matters as well. Men’s main-draw singles at the US Open is best of five sets, while women’s singles and most other events are best of three. A men’s singles match therefore has the potential to occupy a court for much longer, although an individual women’s match can still outlast a shorter men’s contest.
5. Contingency Space Is Considered
A schedule that works in perfect conditions can unravel when rain arrives or several matches run long. Officials must consider where unfinished matches could be placed and which courts can continue operating.
Arthur Ashe Stadium and Louis Armstrong Stadium have retractable roofs. Those roofs protect selected matches, but they do not make the entire tournament weatherproof because the remaining courts are uncovered.
If necessary, the Referee can decide whether a court is fit for play and whether a match should be moved. A court change becomes more complicated after a match has officially started, so moving play is not a simple solution to every delay.
How Are Arthur Ashe and Night-Session Matches Chosen?
The largest courts have limited space on their daily programs, especially when separate day and evening sessions are being sold. Officials therefore select a small number of matches from a much larger schedule.
Star players, former champions, leading Americans and attractive matchups are strong candidates for Arthur Ashe Stadium. A match that is expected to generate substantial spectator or television interest may also receive priority.
Broadcasting matters because the US Open serves audiences in many time zones, but it is only one part of the decision. Sporting fairness, player rest and completion of the tournament still have to be considered. Fans following remotely can check where to watch the US Open once the daily match assignments are known.
There is no guaranteed rotation between day and night. A player may compete in several evening sessions, while another may appear mostly during the day. The opponent, previous finish time and needs of the overall schedule can all change the next assignment.
How to Read the US Open Order of Play
The schedule uses short phrases because an exact start time is impossible for every match. Official Us Open Schedule of Play.
| Schedule Term | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Starts at 11am | The first match on that court is scheduled for 11am |
| Followed by | The match begins after the previous match and court turnover |
| Not before 4pm | The match cannot start earlier than 4pm but may start later |
| After rest, not before | The required player-rest period and stated earliest time must both be satisfied |
| To finish or resume | A suspended match will continue from its existing score |
| TBA | A detail such as the court, time or opponent is still to be announced |
What Does “Followed By” Mean?
“Followed by” establishes the sequence, not a clock time. If a match is listed second on a court, it will be played after the first match ends.
The next players do not begin at the exact moment the final point is completed. The previous players must leave, the court and equipment may be checked, and the next match includes the normal walk-on and warm-up process.
Because the preceding match could last one hour or four hours, any predicted start for a “followed by” match is only an estimate.
What Does “Not Before” Mean?
“Not before” gives the earliest time at which a match may start. It is not an appointment or guaranteed start time.
Consider this example:
- Match A starts at 11am.
- Match B is listed as “followed by.”
- Match C is listed as “not before 4pm.”
If the first two matches finish at 2:30pm, Match C must still wait until 4pm. If they keep the court occupied until 5pm, Match C begins after the court is ready and will start later than its listed not-before time.
This wording protects players, sessions and broadcasts from a match beginning unexpectedly early while still allowing the court schedule to move naturally.
When Is the Next Order of Play Released?
The order of play is generally published during the preceding day, once officials have enough results and scheduling information to finalize the next program. There is no dependable evergreen release hour for every day or every edition of the tournament.
Early-round schedules may become clear sooner because many matchups are already known. Later rounds can depend on matches still being played, especially after weather disruption.
The official US Open website and app carry the current schedule of play. Fans should distinguish that live daily listing from the broader tournament schedule, which shows planned rounds and session times but not every player assignment.
Why Can the Order of Play Change?
Grand Slam regulations say that the order of play should not be changed once it has been released. That wording is intended to give players and officials a stable schedule, but it does not mean changes are impossible.
An update may be necessary because of:
- Rain or unsafe court conditions
- Matches carried over from the previous day
- A player withdrawal or walkover
- An unusually long earlier match
- A problem with a court or stadium
- Another unavoidable operational or safety issue
A later match starting behind schedule is not always a formal change. If it was listed as “followed by,” its timing was dependent on the previous match from the beginning.
Court assignments and sequence should therefore be treated as official but still subject to necessary revision. The live schedule is more reliable than a screenshot or printed copy saved earlier.
What the Order of Play Means for Ticket Holders
US Open tickets are normally sold before the daily order of play exists. Buying a ticket for a particular date or session therefore does not guarantee that a specific player will appear there.
The tournament schedule can show which rounds are planned, allowing buyers to understand the likely stage of competition. The exact players, court assignments and sequence are not known until the relevant results are complete and the daily order is released.
Even then, withdrawals and disruption can change the program. A ticket provides access according to its stated court and session conditions, not a guarantee that every originally scheduled match will take place as listed.
How to Use the Schedule on the Day
Begin with the matches that have fixed opening times or not-before times. These provide firmer planning points than matches listed only as “followed by.”
For a followed-by match, monitor the score on the same court rather than relying on a predicted start. A match that looks close to completion can still be extended by a deciding set or a lengthy tie-break.
Recheck the official order of play before travelling and again after arriving. Weather, withdrawals and unfinished matches can affect the program between its initial publication and the start of play.
US Open Order of Play FAQ
Is the Order of Play the Same as the Draw?
No. The draw shows each player’s position and possible route through the tournament. The order of play shows the matches scheduled for a particular day, including their courts and sequence.
Why Do Most Matches Not Have Exact Start Times?
Tennis matches do not have a fixed duration. Most later matches must wait for the preceding contest on the same court to finish, so only an order or earliest possible time can be given.
Does a Top Seed Automatically Play in Arthur Ashe Stadium?
No. Ranking and profile influence scheduling, but there is no published rule giving a seed an automatic right to a particular court or session.
Can Players Request a Particular Match Time?
A player’s circumstances or request may be considered during scheduling, but the player does not control the order of play. Rest rules, fairness, court availability and the need to complete the tournament take priority.
Is a “Not Before” Time Guaranteed?
No. It guarantees only that the match will not begin earlier than the listed time. The start can be delayed by the matches before it, weather or another disruption.