The energy in Queens is different when the subways start filling up with people carrying oversized racquet bags. Honestly, if you’ve ever stepped off the 7 train at Mets-Willets Point during the last week of August, you know that buzz. It’s thick. It’s humid. It's New York. But for 2025, the calendar has a bit of a twist that’s catching some long-time fans off guard.
The us tennis open schedule 2025 is officially making history by expanding to a 15-day main draw format.
Usually, the tournament is a strict 14-day sprint. Not this time. By shifting the start to a Sunday, the USTA is aligning itself with the Australian Open and Roland Garros. It’s a massive change. Basically, we’re getting more tennis, better spacing for the athletes, and a Sunday start that feels like a legitimate holiday for anyone obsessed with the sport.
The Big Shift: Why Sunday Matters
For decades, the "Monday start" was gospel. You’d show up at Flushing Meadows on a Monday morning, bleary-eyed, ready for the first round. In 2025, the main draw officially kicks off on Sunday, August 24.
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Why the change? Well, the "extra" day allows the tournament to breathe. It helps avoid those brutal 3:00 AM finishes that make headlines for all the wrong reasons. Players get more recovery time. Fans get a full weekend of opening-round action. It’s a win-win, even if it feels a little weird to be scanning tickets on a Sunday morning.
The tournament will run through Sunday, September 7, culminating in the Men’s Singles Final.
The Pre-Game: Fan Week and Qualies
If you’re looking for a bargain, Fan Week is where it’s at. From August 18 to August 23, the grounds are free. You can literally just walk in. You’ll see the qualifying tournament, where players ranked outside the top 100 fight like hell for a spot in the main draw. It’s some of the most desperate, high-stakes tennis you’ll ever witness.
- August 18-21: The meat of the qualifying matches.
- August 19-20: A revamped Mixed Doubles Championship with a $1 million prize—this is new and pretty cool.
- August 21: "Stars of the Open" exhibition (usually ticketed, but worth it for the vibes).
- August 23: Arthur Ashe Kids’ Day. Expect crowds. Lots of them.
Week One: The Survival Phase
Once the main draw starts on August 24, the pace is relentless. For the first few days, matches are happening on every single court. You can wander from Court 17 to the Grandstand and see Top 10 players sweating through three shirts in the New York humidity.
The schedule for the first week generally follows a set pattern. Day sessions start at 11:00 AM (or 12:00 PM in Arthur Ashe Stadium). Night sessions—the ones where the celebrities show up—kick off at 7:00 PM.
Monday and Tuesday, August 25-26, finish off the first round. By Wednesday, August 27, we’re into the second round. If you want to see the most tennis for your money, these are the days to go. You can buy a grounds pass and see 20 different matches if you’ve got the stamina.
The Labor Day Gauntlet
Labor Day weekend in New York is synonymous with the Round of 16. This is where the us tennis open schedule 2025 gets serious. On Sunday, August 31, and Monday, September 1, the pretenders are gone.
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Expect massive crowds on Labor Day. It’s usually a sell-out. The matches are longer, the stakes are higher, and the roar from Arthur Ashe Stadium can be heard all the way to the Unisphere.
The Business End: Finals Weekend
By the second Wednesday (September 3), we’re into the Quarterfinals. This is when the schedule thins out, but the quality skyrockets.
Thursday, September 4, is all about the women. The Women’s Semifinals take over the night session. It’s one of the best tickets in sports. Honestly, the atmosphere during a night-session semi at the Open is unmatched.
Friday, September 5, belongs to the men. The Men’s Semifinals are split—one in the afternoon and one in the primetime 7:00 PM slot.
Then comes the hardware:
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- Saturday, September 6: The Women’s Singles Final at 4:00 PM. Earlier in the day, you’ll usually see the Men’s Doubles Final.
- Sunday, September 7: The Men’s Singles Final at 2:00 PM. This is the big one.
Navigating the Grounds Like a Pro
If you're actually planning to attend, don't just look at the dates. Look at the session times. A "Day Session" ticket for Ashe won't get you into the night match. However, a day ticket does let you stay on the grounds and watch matches on the outer courts until the sun goes down.
Also, watch out for the weather. The 2025 schedule is always at the mercy of the "New York humidity." Both Arthur Ashe and Louis Armstrong have roofs, so the big matches will happen regardless, but the outer court schedule can get messy if a thunderstorm rolls through.
Actionable Tips for Your Trip
- Book early: Now that the schedule is a 15-day format, hotel prices in Long Island City and Flushing will spike for that first Sunday.
- The "Night Shift": If you have a night session ticket, don't show up at 7:00 PM. You can usually enter the grounds as early as 6:00 PM to catch the end of the day matches.
- Download the App: The official US Open app updates the "Order of Play" every evening for the next day. It's the only way to know exactly who is playing on which court.
The shift to a 15-day window is a gamble for the USTA, but for the fans, it just means more opportunities to see the best in the world. Whether you're there for the $20 Honey Deuces or the 130-mph serves, the 2025 calendar is set to be the biggest one yet.