US Open Tennis in New York: the first round immediately puts the favorites under pressure
The 2026 US Open is entering the main part of the tournament on the courts of the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center in Flushing Meadows, and Monday, August 31, brings the continuation of the first round of the men's and women's singles. At this stage, spectators can see seeds, returning players, qualifiers and players with different styles all in one day, from big servers to return specialists and players who thrive in long baseline rallies.
The start of the US Open is particularly dynamic because the schedule takes place simultaneously at Arthur Ashe Stadium, Louis Armstrong Stadium, Grandstand and the outer courts. A visit is not limited to just one big match, but can include several completely different tennis experiences during the same day. Tickets for this event are in demand.
What is confirmed for Monday
The organizer lists two main sessions for Monday. The day session is Session 3, while the evening session is Session 4. At Arthur Ashe Stadium, the first-round day program begins at 11:30, while at Louis Armstrong Stadium, Grandstand and through the Grounds Admission program, matches begin from 11:00. The evening program at Arthur Ashe Stadium and Louis Armstrong Stadium begins at 19:00.
For day-session tickets, the gates open at 9:30 from August 30 to September 5, while for evening tickets they open at 18:00. If the ticket for this evening states 18:00, that corresponds to the time entry to the complex begins, not the start of the first evening match. Security screening, walking to the stadium and finding your seat should therefore be included in the arrival plan.
- Day session: entry from 9:30, matches on most courts from 11:00.
- Arthur Ashe Stadium during the day: program begins at 11:30.
- Evening session: entry from 18:00.
- Arthur Ashe Stadium and Louis Armstrong Stadium in the evening: program begins at 19:00.
- The first round of the men's and women's singles has been confirmed, but the specific matchups have not yet been announced.
The men's and women's singles draw is scheduled for Thursday, August 27. Until it is published, it is not possible to reliably state who will play specifically in this session, on which court or at what time of day. The schedule of individual matches comes after the draw, so associating a particular player with this evening beforehand would be speculation.
Leading names and form ahead of New York
The entry list already provides a strong framework. Among the leading names are Aryna Sabalenka and Jannik Sinner, who were ranked world No. 1 when the list was published, followed by Elena Rybakina and Alexander Zverev. Carlos Alcaraz arrives as the defending men's champion. Jessica Pegula, Coco Gauff, Amanda Anisimova, Ben Shelton, Taylor Fritz and Novak Djokovic further broaden the group of players spectators may follow throughout the tournament.
Jannik Sinner arrives as the reigning Wimbledon champion, where he defeated Alexander Zverev in the final. Shortly before the US Open, he withdrew from Cincinnati because of a problem with his right knee and said at the time that he was focusing on preparing for New York. That is not a basis for predicting his health condition, but it is an important piece of information regarding the continuity of his competitive appearances.
Carlos Alcaraz won the US Open in 2025, and at the beginning of 2026 he won the Australian Open and completed the Career Grand Slam. His rhythm ahead of New York is also unusual: he withdrew from Cincinnati while recovering from a wrist problem, and in early August the ATP stated that his most recent tournament appearance had been in Barcelona in April. One of the main stories surrounding him will therefore be how quickly he can transition from training to Grand Slam intensity.
Alexander Zverev won Roland Garros and then reached the Wimbledon final. After an early defeat in Montreal, he defeated Cameron Norrie and Terence Atmane in Cincinnati. His serve remains a key weapon, but New York also demands stability in long rallies, especially when an opponent manages to neutralize the first shot.
Novak Djokovic reached the Australian Open final and the Wimbledon semifinal in 2026, but in Cincinnati he lost his opening match to Thiago Agustin Tirante in three sets. With four titles in New York, his tournament profile remains special, but that result shows why the first round cannot be treated as a formality.
In the women's draw, Aryna Sabalenka is trying to win a third consecutive US Open. Ahead of the American summer series, the WTA listed her as No. 1, with three titles in 2026. Her power on serve and on the first shot after the serve often shortens points, but players who return deep can force her to play an additional shot and change the rhythm.
Elena Rybakina was No. 2 on the entry list and arrives as the reigning Australian Open champion. Jessica Pegula played in the 2024 US Open final, Coco Gauff won the title in 2023, and Amanda Anisimova was a finalist in 2025. That gives the early rounds additional depth, especially on courts outside Arthur Ashe.
The hard court changes the balance between serve and return
The US Open is played on hard courts, and the National Tennis Center uses the Laykold court system. This type of surface rewards taking the initiative early, but a powerful serve alone is not enough. A deep return, a high-quality first shot after the return and the ability to change direction quickly from the baseline can completely change a game.
For spectators, it is useful to watch three details: whether the server gets a short ball to attack after the first serve, where the returner stands in relation to the baseline and what happens on the second serve. It is precisely then that an aggressive return most often creates an opportunity for a break.
Head-to-head records will gain real value once the matchups are announced. Style is just as important as the number of previous wins. A big server against an elite returner, an attacking baseliner against a defensive player, or a player seeking short points against an opponent who handles long rallies well can produce completely different matches on the same surface.
Why the first round is especially interesting live
On television, one court is generally followed at a time. At the complex, spectators can move from a large stadium to a smaller court and change perspective within a few minutes. On the outer courts, the sound of ball contact and footwork can be heard from almost no distance. From higher seats in Arthur Ashe, it is easier to see the geometry of the point, the angle of the serve and player movement, while lower seats convey the speed of the ball more powerfully.
Live tennis also has a different time rhythm from sports with a fixed duration. A match has no predetermined finishing time. A single tie-break or a long service game can change the psychological direction of the contest, while a comeback after losing a set is an integral part of Grand Slam dynamics.
It is worth securing tickets in good time.
Arthur Ashe, Louis Armstrong and Grandstand offer different experiences
Arthur Ashe Stadium is the central arena of the complex and accommodates more than 23,000 spectators. The roof allows play to continue when rain stops the schedule on the outdoor courts. From the higher levels, it is easier to read the pattern of points, while from the lower seats the speed of serves and shots can be felt more strongly.
Louis Armstrong Stadium is the second large arena, with around 14,000 seats and a roof. In the early rounds, it often offers a combination of big names and unpredictable matches. Grandstand is smaller, with 8,125 seats, so spectators remain closer to the action.
The type of ticket determines whether there is a reserved seat and which courts can be accessed. Before arriving, visitors should therefore check the stadium, the day or evening session and the rules for access to other courts. If a package is marked as a two-day package, it is important to check exactly which sessions it includes because the day and evening schedules are managed separately.
Getting to Flushing Meadows
The USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center is located in Queens, in the Flushing Meadows-Corona Park area. For many visitors, the simplest way to arrive is by public transportation. Subway line 7 runs to Mets-Willets Point, and the Long Island Rail Road also connects to that station via Woodside.
Arriving by car requires more planning because the parking arrangements depend on whether the New York Mets are playing at home on the same day. When they do not have a home game, visitors are directed to Mets Stadium Parking, or the Yellow Zone parking area. On conflicting dates, the Blue Zone and Orange Zone are used according to instructions on site.
For an evening session, the return journey should be planned flexibly. A match beginning at 19:00 has no guaranteed finishing time, and a later match may begin significantly later if the previous one goes into long sets.
Bag rules and security screening
One bag per person is permitted, with maximum dimensions of 12 x 12 x 16 inches. Backpacks are not permitted, with certain exceptions such as simple drawstring bags and medical equipment. Hard-sided coolers, glass bottles and cans, laptops, professional recording equipment, selfie sticks and a number of other items are not permitted.
A reusable metal or plastic water bottle may be permitted if it does not exceed 24 oz. All visitors undergo security screening, so arriving earlier reduces the risk of spending the start of the match waiting in line.
- Bring only what you need for several hours in the stands.
- Check the dimensions of your bag before leaving.
- Include security screening in your arrival time.
- For the evening session, do not plan your return around a fixed match finishing time.
What to watch once the draw is published
Once the matchups are announced, it will be possible to assess form and head-to-head records more precisely. With Sinner and Alcaraz, attention will be on how they look after a period without the usual continuity of competition. For Zverev, the serve and first shot after it will be important, while for Djokovic, the return, baseline control and management of long games will show how quickly he is entering Grand Slam rhythm.
In the women's draw, Sabalenka's power faces a different test against a player who returns early and deep. Rybakina's first serve can shorten games, while Pegula, Gauff and Anisimova offer different balances of attack, defense and changes of direction.
The first round is therefore not only a question of who will advance. For a visitor, it is an opportunity to see how the leading players adapt to the hard court, crowd noise, different courts and opponents who enter with little room for calculation.
Ticket sales for this event are underway.
Sources:
- USOpen.org - 2026 US Open schedule, gate opening times, day and evening sessions, and the draw announcement date.
- USOpen.org - singles entry list, defending champions and leading names in the men's and women's fields.
- USOpen.org - information about Arthur Ashe Stadium, Louis Armstrong Stadium, Grandstand, court access and capacities.
- USOpen.org - bag rules, security screening, transportation and parking.
- ATP Tour - current form of Jannik Sinner, Carlos Alcaraz, Alexander Zverev and Novak Djokovic ahead of the US Open.
- WTA Tennis - current information about Aryna Sabalenka and context on the leading women's players.