The US Open 2026 gets underway on August 30, bringing the world’s best tennis players to the hard courts of the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center in New York. Running through September 13, this year’s 146th edition of the final Grand Slam tournament of the season features a record total prize pool of $108 million, marking a 21 percent increase from the previous year, according to reports from Ouest-France.
Tournament Venue and Historic Prize Money
Flushing Meadows has hosted the tournament since 1978, anchored by the iconic Arthur Ashe Stadium, which holds a capacity of 23,200 spectators. Ahead of the main draw starting on August 30, the grounds host a week of qualifications alongside a free Fan Week.
Defending Champions and Notable Absences
Carlos Alcaraz and Aryna Sabalenka arrive in New York as the defending singles champions. Alcaraz captured the 2025 title after defeating Jannik Sinner in a four-set final that finished 6-2, 3-6, 6-1, 6-4. However, the men’s draw will proceed without the world number one, as Sinner has officially declared himself out of the tournament due to a withdrawal.
Despite that major absence, the men’s and women’s brackets feature heavy star power. Novak Djokovic and Alexander Zverev join Alcaraz in the men’s field, while Elena Rybakina targets the top of the world rankings on the women’s side. Meanwhile, France’s Arthur Fils enters Flushing Meadows as a dangerous outsider following his victory at the Cincinnati Masters 1000.
Broadcasting and Schedule Details
For viewers wanting to follow the action live, Eurosport holds the exclusive television broadcast rights for the US Open. Fans can stream the tournament across connected devices including smart TVs, computers, tablets, and smartphones via platforms such as a CANAL+ SPORT subscription.
Due to the time zone difference with New York, daytime sessions typically begin around 5:00 PM local French time. Night sessions—frequently featuring the most anticipated marquee matchups—get underway around 1:00 AM.
What Comes Next
Qualifying matches and Fan Week activities precede the official start of the main draw on August 30. Fans can look forward to opening-round scheduling announcements from tournament organizers in the coming days as the final preparations wrap up in New York.
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Worth a look
