The energy at the Billie Jean King National Tennis Center on a Sunday is just different. You can feel the humidity hanging over Queens, mixed with the smell of expensive honey deuce cocktails and the distant roar of a 7-train pulling into the station. If you’re looking at the US Open Sunday schedule, you’re likely trying to figure out if you’re catching the chaos of the first weekend or the high-stakes drama of the finals.
It gets confusing. Honestly, the USTA changes things up just enough every year to keep fans on their toes. Depending on which Sunday of the tournament we’re talking about, you’re either looking at a marathon of Round of 16 matches or the crowning of a Grand Slam champion.
The Chaos of Middle Sunday
For years, Wimbledon had "Middle Sunday" as a day of rest, but the US Open has never been about resting. Sunday in the middle of the tournament is arguably the best day for a ground pass. Why? Because the US Open Sunday schedule for the first weekend is packed with the Round of 16. This is where the pretenders get weeded out.
You’ve got matches starting at 11:00 AM sharp on the outer courts. Arthur Ashe Stadium usually kicks off its day session at noon. If you’re sitting in the nosebleeds of Ashe, you’re seeing the biggest names—think Novak Djokovic or Coco Gauff—but the real magic is often over on Louis Armstrong Stadium. Armstrong has a roof now, so the schedule stays on track even when those nasty late-summer thunderstorms roll through New York.
Typically, the day session on the middle Sunday features two big singles matches on the main show courts. Then, everything pauses briefly before the night session starts at 7:00 PM. But don't be fooled. If a match on the US Open Sunday schedule goes to a fifth-set tiebreak in the afternoon, that 7:00 PM start time becomes more of a "suggestion." We’ve seen night sessions start as late as 9:00 PM because the afternoon marathon wouldn't end.
The Grand Finale: Championship Sunday
Then there’s the other Sunday. The big one.
🔗 Read more: Texas vs Oklahoma Football Game: Why the Red River Rivalry is Getting Even Weirder
The US Open Sunday schedule for the final day is a whole different beast. Traditionally, this is the Men’s Singles Final. It’s the culmination of two weeks of brutal hard-court tennis. For a long time, the "Super Saturday" format meant the men played their semifinals on Saturday and the final on Sunday. Players hated it. It was grueling. Fans loved the volume of tennis, but the quality sometimes suffered because the athletes were essentially zombies by the third set on Sunday.
Now, the schedule is more humane. The Men’s Final usually anchors the Sunday afternoon, often starting around 4:00 PM ET. This timing is strategic. It hits the sweet spot for European viewers (late night) and West Coast fans (lunchtime).
Before the men take the court, the US Open Sunday schedule often features the Women’s Doubles Final or the Wheelchair Championships. People often skip the early Sunday afternoon matches to tailgate or hang out in the South Plaza, but they’re missing out. The level of play in the doubles final is often more tactical and lightning-fast than the baseline grinding you see in the singles.
How the Weather Rips Up the Script
Let’s talk about the rain. New York in September is unpredictable. While Arthur Ashe and Louis Armstrong stadiums have retractable roofs, the US Open Sunday schedule can still get absolutely wrecked by a hurricane or a tropical depression moving up the coast.
If it rains, the schedule compresses. Suddenly, matches that were supposed to be on Sunday morning get pushed to Sunday night. Or worse, the USTA has to move matches to Monday. Remember the stretch from 2008 to 2012? The Men’s Final was pushed to Monday for five straight years. It became a running joke. "Monday Night Tennis" wasn't exactly what the broadcasters had in mind.
💡 You might also like: How to watch vikings game online free without the usual headache
Because of those delays, the roofs were built. Now, the US Open Sunday schedule is much more "weather-proof" than it used to be. Even if it's pouring in Flushing, the stars will play. However, if you have a grounds pass and it rains, you’re basically stuck under the eaves of the stadium watching the big screen, because the outer court matches will be halted.
Breaking Down the Session Times
If you're holding a ticket, look at the session number. It matters more than the clock.
- The Day Session: Starts at 11:00 AM on most courts and 12:00 PM in Ashe. This usually covers three matches. If you're lucky, you get a five-set thriller. If you're unlucky, you see two straight-set blowouts and you're out of the stadium by 4:00 PM.
- The Night Session: This is the flagship. It starts at 7:00 PM. Usually, it’s one women’s match and one men’s match, or vice versa. The Sunday night session during the first week is legendary for its atmosphere. Fans are a little louder, the lights are brighter, and the pressure is higher.
The Men's Final Sunday is technically a single session. You pay a premium, and you're there for the trophy presentation. It’s shorter in terms of "number of matches," but the weight of the moment makes up for it.
Getting to the Grounds on Sunday
Traffic in New York is a nightmare. On a Sunday, you might think it’s better. It’s not. Between the Mets playing at Citi Field right next door and the general weekend congestion, the Long Island Rail Road (LIRR) is your best friend.
Check the LIRR or 7-train schedule specifically for that Sunday. They usually run extra "Tennis Special" trains. If you try to Uber to the US Open Sunday schedule start time, you’ll likely spend the first three games of the first set sitting on the Grand Central Parkway staring at the Unisphere from a distance.
📖 Related: Liechtenstein National Football Team: Why Their Struggles are Different Than You Think
What Most People Get Wrong
A common mistake is thinking the Sunday schedule is the same every year. It isn't. The USTA often experiments with the order of play. Sometimes the women’s final is Saturday night, sometimes it has been on Sunday in the past. Currently, the Women's Final is Saturday and the Men's Final is Sunday.
Also, don't assume the "start time" is when the ball is in play. There’s the warm-up, the coin toss, and the inevitable introductions. If the schedule says 4:00 PM, the first serve is likely closer to 4:20 PM. Use that time to grab your food. The lines for the Fuku spicy chicken sandwiches or the Pat LaFrieda steak fries are shortest right when the players walk onto the court.
Actionable Steps for Fans
If you're planning your trip around the US Open Sunday schedule, do these three things:
- Download the US Open App: This is the only place where the schedule is updated in real-time. If a player withdraws or a match is moved to a different court, the app will ping you before the scoreboard even changes.
- Check the "Order of Play": This is released the night before. Don't go looking for the Sunday schedule on Friday; it won't exist. The tournament officials wait until the last match of Saturday is finished before they decide who plays where on Sunday.
- Arrive Two Hours Early: If you want to see the practice courts—where you can literally stand five feet away from legends like Nadal or Alcaraz—you need to be there well before the main stadium matches begin. The practice schedule is often the most underrated part of the US Open Sunday experience.
The Sunday schedule represents the peak of the tournament. Whether it's the frantic energy of the fourth round or the historic weight of the final, being prepared for the timing and the logistics makes the difference between a stressful day and a perfect one in the stands. Keep an eye on the weather, trust the train, and always have a backup plan for when a three-hour match turns into a five-hour epic.