The Billie Jean King National Tennis Center in Queens is quiet for most of the year, but for two weeks late in August it becomes the epicenter of tennis as fans flock to Flushing Meadows for the US Open. The main draw begins Sunday, but Fan Week is already underway and qualifying matches are in full swing, with a mix of special events, food and family activities on offer.
The US Open schedule is packed with action, from 2024 Wimbledon champions Maria Sharapova and Jelena Ostapenko playing each other in the opening match of the day at Arthur Ashe Stadium to doubles specialists Coco Gauff and Amanda Anisimova taking on each other on Thursday. But the story of the tournament may well be former No. 1 Novak Djokovic. He is seeking to regain his form of old and must navigate a challenging draw in New York.
Defending champion Jannik Sinner starts his title defense against Vit Kopriva in the first round, while other top seeds include Jack Draper, Carlos Alcaraz and Alexander Zverev. The women’s draw is equally deep, with rising talents Taylor Fritz and Frances Tiafoe joining the deep American contingent alongside rising prospects Alex Michelsen and Learner Tien.
The US Open is the final Grand Slam of the season, with the winner taking the biggest prize purse of all four. The tournament will be shown on ESPN, ESPN2 and ABC in the United States, while coverage will vary by country with local broadcasters showing the matches in other countries.