US Open Tennis: The Complete Guide

The US Open is the fourth and final Grand Slam tournament of the tennis season. Played in New York City at the end of the North American hard-court swing, it combines world-class tennis with large crowds, late-night matches and one of the most energetic atmospheres in the sport.

Both the men’s and women’s singles competitions feature 128 players, with the champions required to win seven matches. The tournament also includes men’s and women’s doubles, mixed doubles, junior competitions and wheelchair events. This guide explains the history, surface, format, scoring, qualifying system, stadiums and traditions that make the US Open unique.

US Open at a Glance

What Is the US Open?

The US Open is one of tennis’s four Grand Slam tournaments, alongside the Australian Open, French Open and Wimbledon. Grand Slams offer the most ranking points, prize money and prestige available in professional tennis. Winning the US Open therefore represents one of the biggest achievements of a player’s career.

The tournament is organized by the United States Tennis Association and is played annually in New York City. Although the main singles draws receive most of the attention, the US Open is a much larger event containing qualifying, doubles, mixed doubles, juniors and wheelchair tennis.

Unlike regular ATP and WTA tournaments, the men’s singles competition uses a best-of-five-set format. Women’s singles remains best of three sets, as it does throughout the professional season.

When Is the 2026 US Open?

The 2026 US Open runs from August 23 to September 13. Fan Week takes place from August 23 to 29, with qualifying, player practices, exhibitions and the Mixed Doubles Championship leading into the main tournament.

Men’s and women’s singles qualifying is scheduled for August 24 to 27. The singles main draws begin on Sunday, August 30, before the women’s final on Saturday, September 12 and the men’s final on Sunday, September 13. The complete session breakdown is available through the official 2026 US Open schedule.

The US Open traditionally begins in late August and continues into September. Exact dates change each year, but the men’s final normally brings the Grand Slam season to an end on the second Sunday of the main tournament.

Where Is the US Open Played?

The US Open is played at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center in Flushing Meadows-Corona Park, Queens. The venue has hosted the tournament since 1978 and contains Arthur Ashe Stadium, Louis Armstrong Stadium, Grandstand and numerous outer courts.

The tennis center was renamed in honor of Billie Jean King in 2006. King won four US Open singles titles and played an important role in the development of professional women’s tennis, including the campaign for equal prize money.

Flushing Meadows is located close to Citi Field, home of the New York Mets. Spectators can reach the venue through the Mets-Willets Point station using the New York City Subway’s 7 line or the Long Island Rail Road.

The History of the US Open

The tournament began in 1881 as the U.S. National Men’s Singles Championship. It was originally held on grass at the Newport Casino in Rhode Island and was restricted to members of clubs affiliated with the United States National Lawn Tennis Association. Click here for a deeper dive into US Open’s History and Records.

Women’s singles was added in 1887, with the competition held at the Philadelphia Cricket Club. Men’s doubles, women’s doubles and mixed doubles were also established as separate national championships before the events were eventually brought together.

The men’s competition moved to the West Side Tennis Club in Forest Hills, New York, in 1915. Forest Hills became closely associated with American championship tennis and remained the tournament’s main home for more than 60 years.

A major change arrived in 1968 when professionals were permitted to compete alongside amateurs. The event became known as the US Open, reflecting its new status as an open competition. This first Open Era edition was played at Forest Hills.

The tournament switched from grass to green clay in 1975. Three years later, it moved to the newly constructed National Tennis Center in Flushing Meadows and changed to hard courts. As a result, the US Open is the only Grand Slam that has been contested on grass, clay and hard courts.

The move to Flushing Meadows allowed the tournament to expand significantly. Arthur Ashe Stadium opened in 1997, while the modern Louis Armstrong Stadium opened in 2018. The development of retractable roofs, electronic line calling and larger spectator facilities has turned the venue into one of the biggest tennis complexes in the world.

Another important moment occurred in 1973 when the US Open became the first Grand Slam to award equal prize money to its men’s and women’s champions. Billie Jean King was one of the leading figures behind the campaign for equality. The tournament’s equal prize-money history remains an important part of its identity.

What Surface Is the US Open Played On?

The US Open is played on outdoor hard courts. Laykold has been the tournament’s official court surface since 2020, replacing the DecoTurf system that had been used for several decades. Laykold is an acrylic court system applied over a hard base and can be adjusted to produce a consistent pace across the venue.

The playing area is blue, while the surrounding court is green. The contrast makes the yellow tennis ball easier for players, spectators and television viewers to follow. Blue courts have become one of the tournament’s most recognizable visual features.

Hard courts generally provide a more predictable bounce than grass or clay. They also allow a wide range of playing styles to succeed. Powerful servers can win short points, aggressive baseliners can take the ball early and defensive players can use the consistent bounce to extend rallies.

The exact speed of the courts can still change from one year to another. Resurfacing, the amount of sand used in the acrylic layers, the tennis balls and the weather can all influence how quickly the ball moves through the court.

How US Open Conditions Affect Play

New York can be hot and humid during the tournament. In warm daytime conditions, the ball can travel quickly through the air and bounce higher off the court. The heat also increases the physical demands placed on players, particularly during long men’s matches.

Humidity can make the conditions feel heavier and more exhausting. Players must manage hydration, energy levels and recovery throughout a match, while their teams may make small adjustments to equipment and string tension.

Night sessions can feel noticeably different. Cooler temperatures may reduce the ball’s speed through the air, while heavier conditions can make it more difficult to finish points. Players who compete in both day and night sessions must be capable of adjusting their positioning and shot selection.

Wind can also affect matches on the open courts. A player may need to use more spin, increase the margin over the net and avoid aiming too close to the lines.

How Does the US Open Format Work?

The men’s and women’s singles main draws each contain 128 players. A player must win seven consecutive matches to become champion.

Each singles draw is usually made up of 104 direct entries, 16 qualifiers and eight wild cards. Direct entry is primarily based on the ATP or WTA rankings at the tournament’s entry deadline. Protected rankings and other official entry rules can also affect the final field.

The tournament uses 32 seeds in each singles draw. Seeding prevents the highest-ranked players from facing one another in the opening rounds. The No.1 and No.2 seeds are placed in opposite halves, meaning they cannot meet before the final.

The remaining seeds are distributed throughout the draw. Unseeded players are then drawn into the open positions, which can produce dangerous first-round matchups between established champions, returning players and rising talents.

How Does US Open Qualifying Work?

US Open qualifying gives players outside the main-draw entry cutoff an opportunity to earn their place in the tournament. The men’s and women’s qualifying draws each contain 128 players.

A qualifier must win three matches to reach the main draw. Sixteen men and 16 women successfully qualify, filling the final 16 places in each singles tournament. Qualifying can include lower-ranked professionals, young players, former top-ranked competitors and players returning from injuries.

Qualifying matches are played during Fan Week and offer spectators an opportunity to watch competitive tennis before the main tournament begins. The pressure can be considerable because qualification guarantees a place in the main draw, additional ranking points and first-round prize money.

A player who loses in the final qualifying round can still enter the main draw as a lucky loser. This happens when a player who was already accepted into the main draw withdraws before playing. Lucky-loser places are awarded according to the tournament’s official selection procedure.

What Is a US Open Wild Card?

A wild card allows a player to enter the tournament without meeting the normal ranking requirement. The US Open awards eight wild cards in each singles main draw.

Wild cards are frequently given to promising American players, former champions, players returning from injury and competitors involved in reciprocal agreements with other national tennis federations. Receiving a wild card does not provide any protection within the draw, so the player can still face a top seed in the first round.

Qualifying wild cards are also available. These allow players to enter the qualifying tournament and attempt to earn a main-draw position by winning three matches.

US Open Scoring and Match Format

Men’s singles matches are played as the best of five sets. The first player to win three sets wins the match. Women’s singles matches use a best-of-three format, with the first player to win two sets advancing.

A set is normally won by the first player to reach six games with a two-game advantage. If the score reaches 6-6, a tie-break is played. The standard tie-break is won by the first player to reach seven points while leading by at least two.

If a deciding set reaches 6-6, the US Open uses a 10-point tie-break. The first player to reach 10 points with a margin of at least two wins the match. This rule applies to the fifth set of men’s singles and the third set of women’s singles.

Understanding points, games, sets and tie-breaks becomes much easier after reading how the tennis scoring system works and the complete tennis rules explained guide.

What Other Events Are Played at the US Open?

The US Open is much more than two singles tournaments. It includes several professional, junior and wheelchair competitions.

Men’s and Women’s Doubles

The men’s and women’s doubles main draws can contain up to 64 teams. Doubles creates different tactical demands, with greater emphasis on returns, volleys, communication and control of the net.

Mixed Doubles

Mixed doubles features teams consisting of one man and one woman. The competition was redesigned in 2025 and is now played during Fan Week.

For 2026, an eight-team qualifying event awards two places in the 16-team main draw. Qualifying through the semifinals uses short sets to four games, no-ad scoring and a 10-point match tie-break if the teams divide the opening sets. The final uses sets to six games, no-ad scoring and a deciding 10-point match tie-break. The tournament has confirmed the current details through its 2026 Mixed Doubles Championship format.

Junior Events

The US Open Junior Championships include boys’ and girls’ singles and doubles. Many future professional stars compete in the junior tournament before establishing themselves on the ATP or WTA Tours.

Wheelchair Tennis

The wheelchair competition includes men’s, women’s and quad divisions. Players compete in singles and doubles, with the same basic scoring system used in conventional tennis. The main rule difference is that wheelchair players may allow the ball to bounce twice.

US Open Stadiums and Courts

The USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center contains three main show courts and numerous smaller competition courts. During the opening rounds, matches take place throughout the entire complex.

Arthur Ashe Stadium

Arthur Ashe Stadium is the tournament’s main court and one of the largest tennis stadiums in the world, holding more than 23,000 spectators. It hosts the most prominent matches, most night sessions, the singles semifinals and both singles finals.

The stadium opened in 1997 and is named after Arthur Ashe, the first men’s US Open champion of the Open Era. A retractable roof was added in 2016, allowing matches to continue during rain.

The size of the stadium creates an impressive atmosphere, but it can also make seats in the highest levels feel distant from the court. Reserved Arthur Ashe tickets include an assigned seat inside the stadium and access to general-admission areas elsewhere around the grounds.

Louis Armstrong Stadium

Louis Armstrong Stadium is the second-largest stadium at the venue, with approximately 14,000 seats. The current stadium opened in 2018 and also has a retractable roof.

Armstrong often stages high-profile singles matches during the first week. Its smaller design places many spectators closer to the court, while selected areas are available through general admission.

Grandstand

Grandstand is an open-air show court known for providing close views and a lively atmosphere. It hosts matches during the earlier rounds but does not have a retractable roof.

Outer Courts

The outer courts are one of the main attractions during the opening week. Spectators can move between matches, watch doubles and stand close enough to appreciate the speed, movement and sound of professional tennis.

For players and coaches, watching from a smaller court can be particularly valuable. Positioning, footwork and tactical patterns are easier to observe than they are from the upper levels of Arthur Ashe Stadium.

What Are US Open Day and Night Sessions?

The US Open divides much of its schedule into day and night sessions. Day sessions usually begin in the late morning and include matches across Arthur Ashe Stadium, Louis Armstrong Stadium, Grandstand and the outer courts.

Night sessions place greater emphasis on marquee matches. Arthur Ashe Stadium normally hosts one women’s match and one men’s match under the lights, although the schedule can change. Louis Armstrong also holds evening sessions during part of the tournament.

A ticket for an Arthur Ashe day session does not automatically provide the reserved seat for that evening’s session. Spectators attending both usually require separate tickets.

Day sessions offer more tennis and access to more courts. Night sessions provide the atmosphere associated with the US Open’s biggest matches, but they can also finish very late if the opening match is long.

How Does Rain Affect the US Open?

The US Open is an outdoor tournament, so rain can interrupt play on Grandstand and the outer courts. Matches on those courts are suspended until conditions are safe and the surface has been dried.

Arthur Ashe Stadium and Louis Armstrong Stadium have retractable roofs. This gives the tournament two covered courts and allows major matches to continue during bad weather.

Closing the roof can change the playing conditions. Wind is removed, crowd noise becomes more concentrated and the atmosphere can feel more like an indoor tournament. Humidity may also remain trapped inside the stadium.

US Open Prize Money and Ranking Points

The US Open offers one of the largest prize funds in tennis. The exact amount changes annually, with players receiving progressively more money for each round they reach.

The 2025 tournament offered $90million in total player compensation. The men’s and women’s singles champions each received $5million, maintaining the tournament’s commitment to equal prize money.

A singles champion also receives 2,000 ATP or WTA ranking points. These points can have a major effect on qualification for the ATP Finals or WTA Finals and on the year-end No.1 ranking.

Qualifying players earn prize money and ranking points even if they do not reach the main draw. This makes the qualifying tournament financially and professionally important for lower-ranked competitors.

What Is US Open Fan Week?

Fan Week takes place immediately before the singles main draw. It gives spectators access to qualifying, practices, exhibitions and entertainment around the tennis center.

For 2026, Fan Week runs from August 23 to 29. Grounds admission remains free, but adults are required to obtain a free Fan Access Pass before entering. Selected exhibitions and premium events may require separate tickets.

Fan Week is one of the best opportunities to watch professional tennis at close range. The qualifying matches are highly competitive, while practice sessions can provide a close look at the routines, drills and equipment used by leading players.

How to Attend the US Open

Several ticket types are available, including Arthur Ashe Stadium tickets, Louis Armstrong Stadium tickets, Grandstand tickets and grounds passes. The exact options depend on the session and stage of the tournament.

A grounds pass is particularly valuable during the first week because matches take place across numerous courts. It provides access to the grounds and selected general-admission seating but does not include a reserved Arthur Ashe seat.

An Arthur Ashe ticket provides a reserved seat for the session shown on the ticket. It also gives the holder access to the grounds and general-admission areas on other courts, subject to capacity.

The early rounds provide the greatest variety. Visitors can see numerous singles and doubles matches in one day, while the semifinals and finals provide fewer matches but greater importance.

Spectators should check the current entry, bag and prohibited-item rules before travelling. Policies can change between editions, and larger bags or restricted items may need to be stored away from the venue.

Famous US Open Champions

The US Open has been won by many of the greatest players in tennis history. Men’s champions include Bill Tilden, Rod Laver, Arthur Ashe, Jimmy Connors, John McEnroe, Ivan Lendl, Pete Sampras, Andre Agassi, Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal, Novak Djokovic and Carlos Alcaraz.

Women’s champions include Molla Mallory, Helen Wills, Maureen Connolly, Billie Jean King, Chris Evert, Martina Navratilova, Steffi Graf, Monica Seles, Serena Williams, Venus Williams, Justine Henin, Kim Clijsters, Naomi Osaka, Coco Gauff and Aryna Sabalenka.

Carlos Alcaraz won the 2025 men’s singles title by defeating Jannik Sinner in the final. Aryna Sabalenka defeated Amanda Anisimova to win the women’s title for a second consecutive year.

Who Has Won the Most US Open Titles?

Records from the pre-1968 national championships and the Open Era are often separated because the tournament structure and eligibility rules were different.

Jimmy Connors holds a particularly unusual record. He is the only player to win US Open singles championships on all three of the tournament’s surfaces, winning on grass in 1974, clay in 1976 and hard court in 1978.

Emma Raducanu created another unique record in 2021. She became the first qualifier in tennis history to win a Grand Slam singles title, completing 10 matches without losing a set.

What Makes the US Open Different From Other Grand Slams?

The US Open’s identity is closely connected to New York. Crowds are generally louder and more involved than at many traditional tennis tournaments, especially during evening sessions.

Players are not required to wear white, unlike at Wimbledon. Music, entertainment and food are also a visible part of the event, creating an atmosphere closer to a major American sporting event.

The hard courts produce a relatively balanced test. Players need power to control short points, consistency to survive long rallies and physical endurance to handle the heat and best-of-five-set matches.

The tournament’s willingness to introduce changes is another important difference. It was the first Grand Slam to use a tie-break, the first to offer equal prize money and one of the earliest to implement electronic line calling throughout its courts.

Final Thoughts

The US Open combines nearly 150 years of history with the energy of modern New York. Its large draws, hard-court conditions, night sessions and unpredictable atmosphere create a demanding test for every type of player.

Winning the tournament requires far more than technical ability. A champion must handle heat, humidity, crowd noise, changing conditions and seven increasingly difficult matches. Whether you are following the event from home or planning to visit Flushing Meadows, understanding its history, format and traditions makes the final Grand Slam of the season even more enjoyable.

US Open FAQ

Is the US Open played on clay or hard courts?

The US Open is played on outdoor Laykold hard courts. It was previously played on grass and green clay but has used hard courts since moving to Flushing Meadows in 1978.

Why is it called the US Open?

The tournament became the US Open in 1968 when professional players were allowed to compete alongside amateurs. Before that, it was known as the U.S. National Championships.

How many players compete in the US Open?

The men’s and women’s singles main draws each contain 128 players. Each champion must win seven matches.

How many sets are played at the US Open?

Men’s singles matches are best of five sets. Women’s singles matches are best of three sets.

Does the US Open have a final-set tie-break?

Yes. If the deciding set reaches 6-6, the players contest a 10-point tie-break and must win it by at least two points.

How do players qualify for the US Open?

Most players enter directly through their ranking. Each singles draw also includes 16 qualifiers and eight wild cards.

Is US Open qualifying free to watch?

Qualifying is part of Fan Week and grounds admission is generally free. Adults attending Fan Week in 2026 require a free Fan Access Pass, while some special events need separate tickets.

What is the biggest court at the US Open?

Arthur Ashe Stadium is the main and largest court. It holds more than 23,000 spectators and hosts the tournament’s biggest matches and finals.

Can US Open matches continue in the rain?

Matches can continue under the retractable roofs in Arthur Ashe Stadium and Louis Armstrong Stadium. Play on uncovered courts must stop during rain.

Who won the most recent US Open?

Carlos Alcaraz won the 2025 men’s singles championship, while Aryna Sabalenka won the 2025 women’s singles championship.