US Open Match Times: Why the Schedule Always Feels Like Chaos

You're sitting there, remote in hand, or maybe you're staring at the Arthur Ashe Stadium gates in Flushing Meadows, wondering why on earth the world's best tennis players aren't on court yet. It’s a classic New York headache. US Open match times are notoriously fickle, dictated by a cocktail of television broadcast rights, unpredictable set lengths, and the brutal humidity of a Queens August. If you've ever tried to plan a dinner around a Carlos Alcaraz night session, you know the struggle is real.

The gates usually open at 9:30 AM for the day session. Matches on the outer courts—the ones where you can basically feel the sweat fly off a player’s forehead—typically kick off at 11:00 AM. But that's just the start of the puzzle.

The Logic Behind the Day and Night Sessions

The USTA divides the day into two distinct tickets. It's a money-maker, sure, but it also creates a massive logistical hurdle for fans trying to track US Open match times.

Day sessions are the marathon. You get a flurry of matches across nearly 20 courts. If you're holding a grounds pass, you're basically playing a high-stakes game of musical chairs. You see a score update on the big screen, sprint toward Court 17, and hope there's still a sliver of bleacher space left. Most of these daytime slots are firm at the start—11:00 AM or 12:00 PM for the show courts like Louis Armstrong or Grandstand—but once that first ball is hit, the schedule is at the mercy of the game. A straight-sets blowout might take 90 minutes. A five-set thriller? You’re looking at four or five hours. This is why the "not before" tag on the official order of play is the most important phrase you'll ever read.

Night sessions are the glamour. They usually start at 7:00 PM. This is when the celebrities show up and the atmosphere gets electric, bordering on rowdy. But here is the catch: if the day session on Arthur Ashe runs long, the night session gets pushed. We’ve seen matches start at 9:30 PM or even later. It’s chaos. Pure, unadulterated New York tennis chaos.

Why Some Matches Start Late

Broadcasters like ESPN have a massive say in when people play. They want the big names—the Gauffs, the Djokovics, the Sinner-types—in primetime. This creates a weird tension. Players hate finishing at 2:00 AM. Fans hate trying to find a subway back to Manhattan when the sun is almost up.

Weather is the other factor. The US Open has roofs on Arthur Ashe and Louis Armstrong, which helps, but the humidity is a silent killer. In 2024 and 2025, we saw the "Extreme Heat Policy" invoked more frequently. When the heat stress index hits a certain point, match times can be delayed, or extended breaks are added between sets. This throws the entire afternoon schedule into a blender. If you are checking the US Open match times on a day when it's 95 degrees with 80% humidity, expect delays.

The Order of Play: How to Read It Like a Pro

The "Order of Play" is released every evening for the following day. It’s usually posted around 6:00 PM or 7:00 PM. Don't just look at the names. Look at the court assignments.

• Arthur Ashe Stadium: Two day matches (usually starting at 12:00 PM) and two night matches (starting at 7:00 PM).
• Louis Armstrong Stadium: Three day matches (starting at 11:00 AM) and two night matches (starting at 7:00 PM).
• Grandstand: A steady stream of four matches starting at 11:00 AM.

Honestly, the Grandstand is the best place to be. It’s intimate, and because there's no night session ticket, they just play until the matches are done.

The Midnight Madness Factor

The US Open holds the record for the latest finish in Grand Slam history. It’s a badge of honor and a point of massive frustration. When you see US Open match times listed for a night session, remember that "7:00 PM" really means "7:00 PM unless the afternoon match went to a tiebreak in the fifth."

💡 You might also like: Wells Fargo Center Seating Chart: What Most People Get Wrong

In 2022, Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner finished their quarterfinal at 2:50 AM. The stands were still surprisingly full, mostly fueled by espresso and the sheer adrenaline of world-class tennis. This late-night culture is baked into the tournament's DNA. If you’re attending a night session, do not plan on being home before midnight. It just won’t happen.

Tips for Navigating the Schedule

If you want to maximize your time at the Billie Jean King National Tennis Center, you have to be tactical.

First, download the official US Open app. It’s better than the website. The live scores are updated in real-time, and more importantly, it shows the "court status." If a match is in the third set of a women's match, it's likely ending soon. If it's the third set of a men's match, you might have another two hours.

Second, watch the practice court schedule. Sometimes the best way to see a star is not during their official US Open match times, but when they are hitting on the P1 through P5 courts. These times are also listed in the app and are usually much more punctual than the actual matches.

Third, ignore the "Start Time" for the second, third, or fourth matches on any court. They are purely speculative. A good rule of thumb is to allow two hours for a women’s match and three hours for a men’s match. If you see three men’s matches scheduled on Court 11 starting at 11:00 AM, the third match probably won't start until at least 5:00 PM.

What Happens During Rain?

New York summer storms are fast and violent. When the rain hits, play stops on all outer courts immediately. This is when the "Match Times" become irrelevant. The tournament referee will issue updates every 30 to 60 minutes.

If you have a ticket for Ashe or Armstrong, you're fine—the roofs close in about 6-7 minutes. But if you’re a grounds pass holder, you’ll be huddling under the food court awnings with several thousand other people. Once the rain stops, it takes about 30-45 minutes for the "squeegee squads" and the drying machines to get the courts playable again.

Real-World Examples of Scheduling Snags

Take the 2024 tournament, for example. We had a string of afternoon matches that went the distance. By the time the night session was supposed to start, the day session fans were still watching a marathon match on Ashe. The USTA had to shuffle the night session entrance, leading to a bottleneck at the fountains that lasted for hours.

You've gotta be flexible. If you're rigid about time, the US Open will break your spirit.

Actionable Steps for Your Visit

To stay ahead of the curve and actually enjoy the tennis without constantly checking your watch, follow these steps:

Check the "Next Day" schedule early. As soon as the Order of Play drops (around 7 PM the night before), map out your "must-see" matches. Identify which courts they are on and look at what matches are scheduled before them.

✨ Don't miss: Bristol Rovers vs Bolton: What Most People Get Wrong About This League One Rivalry

Arrive at the grounds at least 90 minutes before your "target" match. Security lines at the US Open are no joke. Between the bag checks and the metal detectors, it can take 30 minutes just to get inside. Then you have to navigate the crowds to find your court.

Monitor the "Not Before" times religiously. If a match is listed as "Not Before 5:00 PM," it will absolutely not start earlier, even if the previous match ends at 3:00 PM. This gives you a guaranteed window to grab food or browse the merch shops.

Stay near a screen. If you’re wandering the grounds, keep an eye on the massive digital boards. They provide live updates on which matches are in their final games. When you see a "5-4" or "6-6" scoreline, that’s your cue to start moving toward your next destination.

Prepare for the Long Haul. If you are attending a night session, arrange your transportation in advance. Ride-share prices skyrocket after 11:00 PM, and the 7 Train can be a packed, sweaty experience. Knowing the US Open match times run late allows you to plan for a late-night Uber or a specific train departure.

The US Open isn't just a sporting event; it's a test of endurance for the fans as much as the players. The schedule is a living, breathing thing that changes by the minute. Embrace the unpredictability, stay hydrated, and keep your eyes on the scoreboards. That’s the only way to survive the most electric two weeks in tennis.