A record price, a controversial new mixed format, favorites and the very special atmosphere in Flushing Meadows-all important information before the start of the US Open.
When will the US Open 2025 games take place?
The last Grand Slam of the tennis year begins on August 24th, a Sunday, with the first round matches. The final weekend begins on Friday, September 5, with the final in the women’s double. For Saturday, September 6th, the endgames are scheduled for women and men’s singles. The end of the men’s final on Sunday, September 7th.
The game will be played in New York from August 18, then the qualification starts. On August 19 and 20, the mixed competition will take place in the new, shortened format.
Flushing Meadows – the venue
The US Open has been taking place at the Usta Billie Jean King National Tennis Center in Flushing Meadows in the New York district of Queens since 1978. The game is played in the Arthur Ashe stage, with a capacity of more than 23,500 fans it is still the largest tennis arena in the world. The second largest stadium, the Louis Armstrong Stadium, has 14,000 seats after a modernization and, like the Center Court in Arthur Ashe, has a lockable roof.
Like the Australian Open, the US Open are played on hard court. In contrast to the other two major tournaments in Paris (sand) and Wimbledon (lawn).
Who are the favorites at the US Open?
Before the start, there is hardly a clue for men why it should not amount to a new giant duel between Jannik Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz. The two top players in the world rankings have identified the last seven Grand Slam titles. Alexander Zverev, Nominal’s first challenger as number three in the world, looked struck during the dress rehearsal in Cincinnati, and after the first round in Wimbledon, also spoke about mental problems.
Novak Djokovic will also try to continue his hunt for the 25th major title in New York. The hopes of the US fans in Flushing Meadows, where no American could no longer win since Andy Roddick in the men’s singles in 2003, rest on Ben Shelton and Taylor Fritz, who was only stopped in the final of Sinner last year.
For women you have to have IGA Swiatek, who ended her dry spell with an impressive Wimbledon triumph, on the bill.
The world -ranking aryna Sabalenka actually feels at home on the quick topping in New York and is also the defending champion. In the previous major tournaments of the year, she also had to struggle with herself. After two final defeats, in Paris against Coco Gauff and in Melbourne against Madison Keys, Sabalenka is still waiting for a Grand Slam success this year.
The Americans Keys and Gauff, the latter triumphed in Flushing Meadows in 2023, also belong to the circle of favorites in their home game.
Aggro fans, aircraft noise – the loudest Grand-Slam tournament tennis
With the US Open, the loudest atmosphere of all major tournaments is by far. Especially when the roof in Arthur Ashe is closed and the echo echoes through the giant bowl. “There are 23,000, but you feel like 23 million”said Francis Tiafoe after one of his matches.
Especially in the night session, the fans come into a party mood – partly also in a riot atmosphere, which belongs to the special folklore at the US Open. There are interjections, also as well as reveals against players – the special backdrop is reinforced by the aircraft noise of the nearby “La Guardia Airport”. The US Open are the counterpart to make royal Wimbledon.
The new mixed event as a big excitement
The new mixed format would also be unthinkable at the tennis classic in Wimbledon. The organizers of the US Open have completely reformed the mixed competition: eight starting places for the mixed double are awarded by placement in the individual world rankings, the rest via wildcards.
The field of participants was halved, the prize money for the winner’s double was raised to one million dollars. For this purpose, the mixed games were brought to the big stage, they take place in the “Fan Week”, before the actual start in the two largest stages. With prominently occupied pairings: Carlos Alcaraz, for example, is registered with Emma Raducanu as a double partner. Old master Venus Williams plays alongside Reilly Opelka. The matches also take place in a shortened form, including four games for a set win.
The new format met with criticism in advance, especially from the ranks of the double specialists were called “pure show event”. Kristina Mladenovic, nine-time Grand Slam winner in doubles and mixed, complained about a say: “It is a super show where nothing and nobody has anything to say. Don’t call it Grand Slam.“
90 million dollars prize money – new record
The US Open had already set a record on the tennis tour last year with a total prize money of $ 75 million. This peak value will be exceeded this year, as the organizers said: a total of 90 million US dollars will be distributed to the players, a rich increase of 20 percent compared to the 2024 edition.
Where can the US Open Games be seen?
Live broadcasts are only available on payment television and for paid streaming services. The Pay TV broadcaster Sky broadcasts the games on various channels. In addition, the portal Sportdeutschland.tv offers the acquisition of an “all access” pass that can be used to access a live stream.
Because of the time shift of six hours compared to CEST, the matches start at the US Open in Germany in the early evening. Accordingly, the night session only begins after midnight in German.