New York in August is basically a humidity-soaked fever dream, but for tennis junkies, it’s the only place on earth that matters. Honestly, if you’re planning to head to Flushing Meadows this year, you need to toss your old playbook out the window. The us open schedule 2025 tennis isn't doing the "business as usual" thing. For the first time ever, we are looking at a historic 15-day main draw.
Usually, the tournament kicks off on a Monday. Not this time.
The USTA decided to follow the lead of the Australian Open and Roland Garros by starting the main draw on a Sunday. Specifically, Sunday, August 24. This isn't just some minor tweak; it’s a massive shift designed to spread out the early-round chaos and, let’s be real, give the broadcasters more weekend airtime. If you’ve ever tried to navigate the grounds during the first Tuesday or Wednesday of the Open, you know it’s a beautiful, crowded nightmare. Spreading that over an extra day might actually let us breathe.
Breaking Down the US Open Schedule 2025 Tennis
The whole thing technically starts way before the big names hit the court for the main draw. Fan Week begins Monday, August 18. This is the "insider" secret. It’s free. You can walk into the Billie Jean King National Tennis Center, watch the qualifying matches, and see top-tier players practicing on the outer courts without spending a dime.
One weird—but kinda cool—addition for 2025 is the revamped Mixed Doubles Championship. They’ve moved it up. It’s happening during Fan Week, with the final on Wednesday, August 20. There’s a $1 million prize on the line, which is serious money for mixed doubles. It’s a smart move to get people into the stands before the "real" tournament even starts.
The First Week: Sunday, August 24 – Sunday, August 31
The first round is now a three-day affair instead of two.
Sunday, August 24, through Tuesday, August 26, will cover the Round of 128. If you’re a fan of the underdog stories or those grueling five-setters on Court 17 that finish at 2:00 AM, this is your window. By Wednesday, August 27, we move into the second round.
Labor Day weekend remains the crown jewel of the schedule. This is when the Round of 16 happens. Sunday, August 31, and Monday, September 1, are historically the loudest, most intense days on the grounds. If you don't have tickets yet for these days, good luck. They’re usually the first to go because everyone is off work and the stakes are finally getting high enough to feel the tension in the air.
The Business End: Tuesday, September 2 – Sunday, September 7
Once we hit Tuesday, the draw thins out and the matches move almost exclusively to the big stadiums—Arthur Ashe and Louis Armstrong.
Quarterfinals take over Tuesday and Wednesday. This is where the scheduling gets a bit more "standard." The women’s semifinals are slated for Thursday night, September 4, under the lights. There’s something about night sessions at the US Open that just hits different. The crowd is a bit rowdier, the air is (hopefully) a bit cooler, and the energy is unmatched by any other Grand Slam.
Friday, September 5, is Men’s Semifinals day. They usually split these into a day and a night session, or two afternoon sessions, depending on the TV slots.
Then comes the finale.
- Women’s Singles Final: Saturday, September 6, at 4:00 PM ET.
- Men’s Singles Final: Sunday, September 7, at 2:00 PM ET.
What Most People Get Wrong About the Sessions
A lot of folks think if they buy a "Day Session" ticket for Arthur Ashe, they can just stay for the night matches. Nope. Doesn't work like that.
The USTA is very strict about clearing the stadium. If you have a day session ticket, you usually have to be out of Ashe by 6:00 PM so they can prep for the 7:00 PM night session. However, here's the pro tip: your day session ticket does usually grant you access to the grounds and the other stadiums like Armstrong or Grandstand for the rest of the evening.
If a match on an outer court is a total banger and goes into the night, you can stay. You just can't get back into Ashe. Honestly, some of the best tennis I’ve ever seen was at 11:30 PM on Court 5 with about 50 other people screaming our heads off.
The Logistics of the 2025 Expansion
Why the 15-day move? Money, mostly. But also player welfare. The ATP and WTA have been pushing for more rest days between matches, and the 15-day format helps prevent those 4:00 AM finishes that everyone hates (well, the players hate them; the fans kinda love the chaos).
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With the main draw beginning on Sunday, August 24, the "Monday start" tradition is officially dead. It means the tournament now spans three full weekends. If you're traveling from out of town, this actually makes planning a lot easier. You can fly in for the opening weekend and catch the biggest stars right away.
Actionable Tips for Your 2025 Visit
If you’re serious about the us open schedule 2025 tennis, don't just wing it.
First, download the official US Open app about a week before. The "Order of Play" for the next day isn't released until late the evening before. You can’t know for sure if Carlos Alcaraz or Iga Świątek is playing Tuesday or Wednesday until that PDF drops.
Second, if you’re on a budget, go during Fan Week (Aug 18–23). You get the vibe, the food, and the world-class tennis for zero dollars. It’s the best deal in sports.
Third, bring a portable charger. Between mobile tickets, taking videos of 130 mph serves, and checking scores on other courts, your battery will be dead by 2:00 PM.
Finally, remember the gate times. For most of the tournament, gates open at 9:30 AM for an 11:00 AM start. Get there early. The security lines at the Mets-Willets Point station can be brutal, and you don't want to be stuck in a metal detector line while your favorite player is already up a break in the first set.
The 2025 US Open is shaping up to be a marathon, not a sprint. Pace yourself, hydrate, and get ready for the 15-day grind.