You know that feeling when you've finally sat down with a cold drink, ready for some high-stakes tennis, only to realize the match is on a channel you don't even have? It's the worst. Honestly, tracking the us open tv schedule 2025 felt a bit like a part-time job this year because of how much the broadcasters moved things around. If you were looking for the standard Monday start, you probably got thrown for a loop right away.
This year was different.
The 2025 tournament actually kicked off its main draw on a Sunday—August 24th—which is a massive departure from the "Open Era" traditions we’re used to. It basically matched the vibe of the Australian and French Opens by stretching the main event to 15 days. If you missed the early rounds because you were waiting for the "traditional" Monday start, you weren't alone.
The Big Switch: Where to Find the us open tv schedule 2025
ESPN has been the home of the US Open for 17 years now, but they’ve started leaning way harder into their "sibling" networks and streaming platforms. For 2025, they didn't just stick to the main ESPN channel. You've likely seen matches bouncing between ESPN, ESPN2, ABC, and the ever-present ESPN+.
It gets confusing.
Take the opening Sunday, for instance. ABC actually handled the noon window, which is usually unheard of for the first round. Then, coverage hopped over to ESPN2 for the afternoon and primetime slots. If you're a cord-cutter, you basically had to live on ESPN+ or Disney+, as they shared a lot of the ESPN2 feeds during the first week.
The Daily Grind: When Matches Actually Start
Usually, you’re looking at two distinct sessions.
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- Day Sessions: Most of these start at 11:00 AM ET across the grounds.
- Night Sessions: These are the "showtime" matches at Arthur Ashe Stadium, typically starting around 7:00 PM ET.
If you’re watching from the West Coast, that 11:00 AM start in New York means you're watching tennis with your morning coffee at 8:00 AM. It’s a grind, but for true fans, it’s the best two weeks of the year.
Championship Weekend: The ABC Takeover
One thing that caught people off guard with the us open tv schedule 2025 was the heavy involvement of ABC for the finals. While ESPN carries the bulk of the tournament, the broadcast giant ABC stepped in for the biggest moments.
The Women’s Singles Final stayed in its high-profile Saturday slot on September 6th. It aired at 4:00 PM ET on ESPN. But the Men’s Final? That moved to ABC on Sunday, September 7th, starting at 2:00 PM ET.
Pro Tip: If you’re a Spanish speaker or just prefer that commentary, ESPN Deportes carries almost every major match simultaneously with the English broadcasts.
Breaking Down the Final Rounds
- Women’s Semifinals: Thursday night, Sept 4, starting at 7:00 PM ET on ESPN.
- Men’s Semifinals: Friday, Sept 5. This is usually split into two sessions—one at 3:00 PM and the "nightcap" at 7:00 PM.
- Men’s Doubles Final: This one was a bit of a hunt; it streamed exclusively on ESPN+ on Saturday, Sept 6, at noon.
Why the Sunday Start Changed Everything
By moving the start date to Sunday, August 24, the USTA basically admitted that "Fan Week" is no longer just a side show. The qualifying rounds actually started back on August 18th. If you were following the us open tv schedule 2025 for those early qualifying matches, you had to jump between ESPNews and ESPN2.
This 15-day format meant more breathing room for the players, but it also meant fans had to be more diligent with their DVRs. You couldn't just assume the "big" matches would be on the main channel.
Honestly, the biggest winner in the 2025 TV landscape was ESPN+. They provided feeds for up to 16 courts simultaneously. If you wanted to watch a random doubles match on Court 17, that was your only bet. It’s a lot of tennis. Maybe too much? Nah.
How to Handle the "Blackout" Frustration
We've all been there. You see a match is "on ESPN" but your provider says you aren't authorized. This usually happens because of the split between ESPN, ESPN2, and ABC.
For the 2025 season, the "First Ball to Last Ball" promise relied heavily on the ESPN App. Even if a match was on ABC, you could generally stream it through the app if you had a participating cable or satellite login.
If you don't have cable at all, services like YouTube TV, Fubo, and Sling were the go-to's. They all carried the necessary channels, but you had to make sure your package included "Sports Extra" add-ons to get ESPNews or ESPN Deportes if you wanted the full experience.
Actionable Tips for Following the Next Open
Watching the US Open isn't just about turning on the TV; it’s about a strategy. If you want to avoid the headache of missing the 2026 schedule or catching up on what happened in 2025, here is how you should prep:
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- Download the Official US Open App: They updated the scores in real-time and, more importantly, told you exactly which "ESPN" channel a match had been moved to when a previous match ran long.
- Check the "Order of Play" Daily: This is released every evening for the following day. Don't trust the TV guide on your cable box; it's often wrong about specific court assignments.
- Sync Your Calendar: Most major sports sites offer a "sync to calendar" feature for the tournament schedule. It’s a lifesaver for those 11:00 AM starts.
- Don't Sleep on the Early Rounds: With the new Sunday start, some of the best "upset" potential happens in those first 48 hours when top seeds are still finding their rhythm on the New York hard courts.
The 2025 tournament was a landmark for how we consume tennis. Between the ABC finals and the 15-day main draw, it’s clear the US Open is moving toward a "festival" model that requires us to be a bit more tech-savvy to catch every point.
Keep your ESPN+ subscription active through the end of September just in case, and always check the 7:00 PM ET window for the marquee matches at Ashe. That’s where the magic usually happens.
For the most accurate, up-to-the-minute court changes, your best bet remains the live "Order of Play" section on the official US Open website, as TV schedules can shift mid-broadcast if a match turns into a five-set marathon.