While we take in the last days of summer in NYC, we’re looking forward to one of the city’s favorite sporting events, the US Open! Welcoming all of tennis’ brightest superstars, this Grand Slam tournament gives fans an opportunity to get up close and personal with their favorite athletes! If you’re thinking about attending this year, or want to be in the know about this year’s tournament, we’ve gathered all the info you could possibly need!
What is the US Open Tennis Championships?
The US Open (United States Open Championship) is the most famous international tennis tournament that concludes the annual Grand Slam of tennis. It is the final gaming event, taking place after the Australian Open, the French Open, and the Wimbledon Championships.
There are championships in five main categories: men’s singles and doubles, women’s singles and doubles, and mixed doubles.
When is the 2024 U.S. Open?
This year, the US Open is taking place from Monday, August 26th through Sunday, September 8th. It typically takes place for two full weeks in late summer, bringing the season to a close.
Where is the 2024 U.S. Open?
The US Open is held every year at the U.S. Tennis Association Billie Jean King National Tennis Center in Flushing Meadows, Queens.
Why is the US Open held in NYC?
The US Open has been played in NYC since 1968, starting at the West Side Tennis Club in Forest Hills, Queens and then moving to the USTA courts in Flushing in 1978, where it has taken place every year since. It was held at the West Side Tennis Club in order have a centralized spot to bring together the five different tennis championships, which were all held at different locations prior to that year (according to Encyclopedia Britannica).
What is the US Open schedule?
This year’s US Open schedule is as follows:
- August 26 – 27: Men’s & Women’s Singles 1st Round
- August 28 – 29: Men’s & Women’s Singles 2nd Round & Men’s & Women’s Doubles 1st Round
- August 30 – 31: Men’s & Women’s Singles 3rd Round & Men’s & Women’s Doubles 2nd Round
- September 1 – 2: Men’s & Women’s Round of 16 & Men’s & Women’s Doubles 3rd Round
- September 3: Men’s & Women’s Quarterfinals, Men’s & Women’s Doubles Quarterfinals, Mixed Doubles Quarterfinals
- September 4: Women’s Doubles Quarterfinals, Women’s Doubles Semifinals, Mixed Doubles Semifinals, Men’s & Women’s Quarterfinals
- September 5: Mixed Doubles Final (or Women’s Doubles Final), Men’s Doubles Semifinals, Women’s Semifinals
- September 6: Women’s Doubles Final (or Mixed Doubles Final), Men’s Semifinals
- September 7: Men’s Doubles Final, Women’s Final
- September 8: Men’s Final
How can I get tickets to the US Open?
Head to the US Open website (usopen.org) to grab your tickets. You can sign up for ticket alerts and tournament info, or search around for the best seats you can find at the Arthur Ashe Stadium, Louis Armstrong Stadium, or the Grandstand Stadium.
Some tips they’ve shared include:
- First week day session tickets are the best deal for the action: first four days of the tournament (so Aug 26-29), feature first- and second-round play. Tickets start at just $70 for grounds passes, which get you into every court and stadium except for Arthur Ashe Stadium.
- For early round evening sessions on Ashe, featuring many of the game’s greats, Promenade tickets start at just $35.
- Quarterfinals allow you to get massive bargains: The second Tuesday and Wednesday day sessions (Sep 5 & 6) in Ashe are host to incredible matches, and tickets start at just $35 for those days.
What is US Open Fan Week?
US Open Fan Week is a predominately free week of tennis activities during the week leading up to the tournament! From August 19 – 25, fans can enjoy various events and activations that allow them to get up close and personal with athletes and the sport! Check out this year’s event schedule below:
- August 19: Legends of the Open presented by Moderna (Free)
- A free-to-attend exhibition match featuring tennis legends like James Blake, Garbine Muguruza and Tommy Haas.
- 7-9 pm at Louis Armstrong Stadium
- August 20: US Open Mixed Madness (Ticketed)
- New mixed doubles event featuring four teams of current men’s and women’s stars competing for $500,000 in prize compensation. Teams include Coco Gauff and Ben Shelton; two-time US Open champion Naomi Osaka and Nick Kyrgios; Stefanos Tsitsipas and Paula Badosa; Taylor Fritz and Aryna Sabalenka.
- August 21: Stars of the Open (Ticketed Event)
- A ticketed exhibition match featuring some of the biggest names in tennis to benefit the UTSA Foundation. Participants include Carlos Alcaraz, Jessica Pegula, Frances Tiafoe, Caroline Wozniacki, Andre Agassi, and additional players to be announced.
- 7-9 pm at Louis Armstrong Stadium
- August 22: Flavors of the Open (Ticketed event to Benefit USTA Foundation)
- Returning for a second year in 2023, “Flavors of the Open” is a chance to experience the US Open’s wide-ranging culinary offerings. Attendees can interact with a record-number of celebrity chefs and food offerings.
- 7 pm at Louis Armstrong Stadium Concourse
- August 23: US Open Media Day (Free)
- The game’s biggest stars will participate in US Open Media Day inside Arthur Ashe Stadium. For the second straight year, a portion of the event will be completely focused on the fans, with those inside Arthur Ashe Stadium hearing directly from the players. Particupating players include Carlos Alcaraz, Iga Swiatek, Frances Tiafoe, Coco Gauff, and more to be announced.
- 12-2 pm at Arthur Ashe Stadium
- August 23: US Open Block Party (Free)
- A dynamic, festival-style celebration on the Fountain Plaza featuring music from a variety of well-known DJs, player appearances and much more! It’s happening from 7 – 10 pm.
- August 24: Arthur Ashe Kids’ Day (Free)
- The long-running Arthur Ashe Kids’ Day, which honors Arthur Ashe’s legacy of instilling the values of humanitarianism, leadership and academic excellence alongside promoting the sport of tennis to young people, will feature kids and family activities all throughout the grounds.
- 9:30 am – 4 pm at USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center Grounds
- August 25: Open Practice Day (Free)
- Watch players practice as they prepare for the US Open main draws throughout the grounds of the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center.
- All day around the grounds
Who’s playing in this year’s US Open?
Though there are, of course, many players over the course of the two weeks, some to have your eye on include:
- 4-time and 2023 men’s champion Novak Djokovic will return to Queens to defend his title!
- Defending champion Coco Gauff is back — the USA star and defending champion for Women’s Singles.
- Men’s #1 Jannik Sinner and 2024 Australian Open champion
- Women’s #1 Iga Swiatek and 2024 French Open champion
Where can I watch the US Open in NYC?
For those who don’t get the chance to catch the game courtside, many spots around NYC stream the matches for all those sans tournament tickets. So, while watching from a TV may not be exactly what you were hoping for, the drink and food specials that come along with it make it not so bad after all.
Some spots who threw US Open watch parties last year include:
- Recreation at The Moxy Downtown, FiDi
- Gab’s, West Village
- Hotel Barrière Fouquet’s New York, Tribeca
The full list can be found here.