You’re staring at the TV, or maybe scrolling through a ticket site, wondering exactly what time is US Open action going to kick off. It’s a deceptively simple question that gets complicated the moment you realize the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center operates on two entirely different clocks.
The US Open isn't just one event; it’s a grueling two-week marathon in the humid heart of Queens, New York. If you show up at 11:00 AM for a night session, you're going to be sitting on a bench for seven hours. If you show up at 7:00 PM with a day session ticket, security is going to politely tell you to turn around.
The Two-Shift System: Understanding the Gates
Generally speaking, the US Open divides its schedule into "Day Sessions" and "Night Sessions." For the majority of the tournament, the Day Session starts at 11:00 AM ET. This is when the grounds come alive. You’ll see matches scattered across the outer courts—Courts 4 through 17—and the big televised stadiums like Louis Armstrong and Grandstand.
Arthur Ashe Stadium, the crown jewel, usually starts its day program slightly later, typically at 12:00 PM ET.
Then there’s the Night Session. This is the glitz. The lights. The celebrities in the front row. The Night Session officially starts at 7:00 PM ET, though the stadium gates often open at 6:00 PM. If you have a night ticket for Ashe, don't expect to see a point played before 7:15 PM. New York crowds take a while to settle in, and the intros are a whole production.
Why the Schedule Always Goes Off the Rails
Tennis doesn't have a game clock. That’s the beauty and the absolute nightmare of the sport. A women’s match could be over in 62 minutes if someone is playing lights-out. A men’s five-setter? That can easily push five hours.
Because of this, the "start time" for any match after the first one of the day is basically an educated guess. The schedule will often list matches as "Not Before 1:00 PM" or "Following Women’s Singles." If the match before it runs long, you’re waiting. If it ends early, the court sits empty until the designated "Not Before" time to ensure fans don't miss the start.
Honestly, the night session is where things get weird. We’ve seen matches at the US Open end at 2:00 AM or even 3:00 AM. In 2022, Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner played a quarterfinal that finished at 2:50 AM. It was legendary, but it also sparked a massive debate about player health and fan safety. When you ask what time is US Open over, the answer is often "whenever the last person stands."
Navigating the Grounds: A Breakdown of the Venue Times
- The Gates: Usually open at 9:30 AM for those with day passes. Get there early. The security line at the Mets-Willets Point station can be a beast.
- Outer Courts: Play begins at 11:00 AM sharp. This is often the best value for money because you can sit three feet away from a top-20 player for the price of a grounds pass.
- Louis Armstrong Stadium: This stadium has its own dedicated schedule. It usually mirrors the 11:00 AM start, but it also features a night session that starts around 7:00 PM.
- Grandstand: This is the most "intimate" of the big three. It typically runs straight through from 11:00 AM until the matches are done, with no separate night ticket required.
The Late Rounds Shift
As the tournament progresses into the semifinals and finals, the clock shifts. For the Women’s Final, which traditionally takes place on the second Saturday, the start time is usually 4:00 PM ET. The Men’s Final on Sunday generally kicks off at 2:00 PM ET.
Broadcasters like ESPN have a huge say in this. They want these matches in "prime time" windows, but they also have to balance the international audience. If you're watching from the UK, that 7:00 PM New York start is midnight. If you're in Tokyo, you're eating breakfast.
The Fan Experience: Don't Get Caught Out
If you’re physically going to Flushing Meadows, the most important thing to remember is the "turnover." Between 5:00 PM and 7:00 PM, the grounds are absolute chaos. Thousands of day-session fans are trying to leave, and thousands of night-session fans are trying to get in.
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If you have a grounds pass, you can actually stay late! You aren't kicked out when the day session ends on the outer courts. You can hang out, grab a Honey Deuce (the signature $20+ cocktail), and watch the big screen until the very last ball is hit on the side courts. You just won't be able to get into Arthur Ashe Stadium without that specific night ticket.
Real-World Pro Tips for Timing
- Check the Order of Play: The USTA releases the "Order of Play" every evening for the following day. Usually around 6:00 PM or 7:00 PM. This is the holy grail. It tells you exactly who is playing where and in what order.
- The Weather Factor: New York in late August is prone to thunderstorms. If it rains, the roofs on Arthur Ashe and Louis Armstrong close. This is great for those ticket holders, but it means matches on the outer courts are delayed or cancelled.
- The Commute: Give yourself an extra 45 minutes. Whether you’re taking the 7 Train or the LIRR, it will be crowded.
What Most People Get Wrong About the Schedule
A common misconception is that a "Night Session" ticket gets you into the grounds all day. It doesn't. You can usually enter at 6:00 PM. If you show up at noon with a night ticket, you’re going to be hanging out at the Citi Field parking lot across the street.
Also, people often assume the "Feature Match" starts exactly at 7:00 PM. It almost never does. There are ceremonies, coin tosses, and warm-ups. If you’re watching on TV, 7:00 PM is when the broadcast starts. The first serve is usually 15 to 20 minutes later.
Actionable Steps for Planning Your Day
To make the most of the US Open schedule, you need a strategy. Don't just wing it.
Download the official US Open App. It is surprisingly well-built and sends push notifications the moment a match time changes or a court is moved. This is vital because if a match ends in a retirement (injury), the next match might be moved up or shifted to a different court to keep the TV broadcast live.
Monitor the "Not Before" times. If you see a match listed as "Not Before 5:00 PM" on Louis Armstrong, and the previous match ends at 3:00 PM, you have two hours to grab food or hit the practice courts to see the stars warming up. The practice court schedule is also usually posted in the app and on digital boards around the fountain.
Book transportation in advance. If you’re staying in Manhattan, the Long Island Rail Road (LIRR) from Penn Station or Grand Central is much faster than the 7 subway line. It takes about 16 minutes. If you try to Uber out of the stadium at 1:00 AM after a marathon night session, expect to pay a massive surge price and wait in a chaotic "rideshare zone" for 30 minutes.
Watch the "Warm-up" Schedule. If you want to see players like Djokovic or Gauff up close without the stadium crowds, check the practice court times. They usually practice about 2-3 hours before their scheduled match time. It’s the best way to see the sheer speed of the ball without needing a front-row seat on Ashe.
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The US Open is loud, it’s late, and it’s unpredictable. That’s why everyone loves it. Just make sure you're looking at the right clock before you head to the borough of churches and championships.