If you’re planning your trip to Flushing Meadows, throw out your old playbook. Seriously. The us tennis open 2025 dates are pulling a fast one on traditionalists by launching the main draw on a Sunday for the first time in history. It's a massive shift. While most of us are used to that sleepy Monday morning kickoff, 2025 is turning the opening weekend into a three-day tennis bender.
Honestly, the energy in Queens is going to be electric from the jump. The tournament officially runs from August 24 to September 7, 2025. But if you only show up on the 24th, you’ve already missed a week of the best "free" tennis on the planet.
The US Tennis Open 2025 Dates You Actually Need to Know
Most people just look at the finals. Big mistake. The real magic happens during Fan Week, which starts on August 18. This is when the qualifying tournament goes down. It’s free. You can literally sit inches away from a player ranked 110 in the world who is fighting for their literal mortgage payment.
The Schedule Breakdown
- August 18–21: The Qualifying Tournament. Gritty, intense, and zero entry fee.
- August 19–20: The revamped Mixed Doubles Championship. This is a big deal now, with a $1 million winner-take-all prize. They’ve moved it to the first week to give it more spotlight.
- August 23: Arthur Ashe Kids' Day. If you have kids, this is the day. If you hate crowds and loud music, stay far away.
- August 24: The Main Draw begins. Yes, a Sunday.
- August 31–September 1: The Round of 16. Labor Day weekend tennis in New York is a vibe you can't replicate.
- September 2–3: Quarterfinals.
- September 4: Women’s Semifinals.
- September 5: Men’s Semifinals.
- September 6: Women’s Singles Final.
- September 7: Men’s Singles Final.
The Sunday start—August 24—is basically the USTA saying they want more eyeballs. By starting on a weekend, they capture the crowd that usually can't take a Monday off work. It expands the tournament to a full 15-day main draw.
Why the First Week is Secretly Better
Everyone wants a ticket to see Jannik Sinner or Aryna Sabalenka under the lights of Arthur Ashe Stadium. I get it. The Honey Deuces are flowing, the celebrities are out, and the music is pumping. But honestly? The first few days of the main draw (August 24–27) are where the real drama lives.
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During these us tennis open 2025 dates, you have matches happening on 17 different courts simultaneously. You can wander from a five-set thriller on Court 12 to a seeded player struggling on the Grandstand. You see the sweat. You hear the shoes squeaking. By the second week, everything gets consolidated into the big stadiums, and you lose that "fairground" feel that makes the US Open special.
Night Sessions: A New York Survival Guide
The night sessions usually start at 7:00 PM, but "start" is a loose term in tennis. If the day session runs long, you’ll be standing in a massive crowd outside the East Gate waiting for the gates to open. Pro tip: Don't bring a bag if you can help it. The "No Bag" line is a life-saver.
If you're attending between August 24 and September 5, be prepared for the 1:00 AM finishes. New York doesn't have a curfew like Wimbledon. We've seen matches end at nearly 3:00 AM. It’s exhausting. It’s glorious.
The $1 Million Mixed Doubles Experiment
One of the weirdest—and coolest—things about the us tennis open 2025 dates is the decision to move the Mixed Doubles final to the first week (specifically Wednesday, August 20). Usually, mixed doubles is the "afterthought" played on the final weekend.
By putting it in Fan Week with a massive $1 million prize, the USTA is trying to get top-tier singles stars to pair up. Imagine Carlos Alcaraz and Iga Swiatek playing together on a Tuesday in August. That’s the goal. It’s a smart move to make the "free" week feel like a premium event.
Labor Day: The Danger Zone
If you’re looking at tickets for the August 30–September 1 window, buy them now. Seriously. This is the busiest time of the tournament. It’s a holiday weekend, the matches are high-stakes (Round of 16), and the grounds are packed to capacity.
"The energy on Labor Day Sunday is unmatched, but the lines for a Grey Goose Honey Deuce will be 30 people deep. Plan your bathroom breaks accordingly." — Every regular attendee ever.
Watching From Home
If you can't make it to Queens, the broadcast schedule follows the dates strictly. ESPN usually handles the bulk of the coverage in the U.S. Because of the Sunday start, you're getting an extra day of "Early Round" coverage.
Key Viewing Times
- Day Sessions: Start around 11:00 AM ET.
- Night Sessions: Start at 7:00 PM ET.
- Finals: The Women's Final (Sept 6) is usually a 4:00 PM ET start, and the Men's Final (Sept 7) is 2:00 PM ET.
Actionable Steps for Your 2025 Trip
Stop waiting for the summer to plan. If you want to actually enjoy the us tennis open 2025 dates, do these three things right now:
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- Book your hotel in Long Island City, not Manhattan. It’s cheaper, and you’re just a few stops away on the 7 train or the LIRR.
- Download the US Open App the moment it updates for 2025. The "practice schedule" feature is the only way to know when the big stars are hitting on the outer courts during Fan Week.
- Target the "Grounds Pass" for the first Sunday (August 24). It's cheaper than an Ashe ticket and gives you access to everything except the main stadium. You’ll see more tennis in six hours than most people see all year.
The move to a 15-day format is a game-changer for the schedule. It gives players more rest and fans more weekend action. Just make sure you're there for the start on Sunday, or you'll be playing catch-up all week.