The final major of the 2026 tennis season is officially here as the US Open begins today.
This year’s US Open comes with a lot of intrigue in the men’s draw as former World No. 1 and defending US Open champion Carlos Alcaraz is returning after missing both the French Open and Wimbledon with a wrist injury.
Though Alcaraz is back, the current World No. 1 Jannik Sinner will be sitting this slam out due to a recurring knee injury. Following his win at the French Open earlier this summer, Alexander Zverev is the No. 1 seed in the US Open draw.
Watch US Open for free
- When: Aug. 30 – Sept. 13
- Where: USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center (Queens, New York)
- How to watch for free: DIRECTV (five-day free trial)
- Channel: airing across ESPN, ESPN2, and ABC
In the women’s draw, defending US Open champion and current World No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka is the top seed, though the World No. 1 ranking is up for grabs with the result of this tournament.
Sabalenka could keep her ranking by winning this year’s US Open, but she would also have to count on Elena Rybakina being eliminated before the semifinals. Rybakina could become the World No. 1 regardless of where she finishes (and where Sabalenka finishes), as long as she reaches the semifinals.
When does the US Open tennis tournament start?
The US Open officially begins with the first round of singles today, Aug. 30. It will end on Sept. 13.
How to watch the US Open 2026 for free
If you don’t have cable, you’ll need a live TV streaming service to stream the US Open live for free. The US Open will air across the ESPN family of networks.
One option we love is DIRECTV, which comes with five days free and starts at $49.99/month, with plenty of subscription options and genre packs that includes ESPN, ESPN2, and ABC, plus access to the ESPN app.
You can also watch every match, including some exclusive ones, on the ESPN Unlimited service. The Select plan will give you access to the matches, but springing for the $29.99/month Unlimited package will also include 24/7 live ESPN, the RedZone style whip-around broadcasts and more.
US Open tennis TV schedule
In addition to all of the televised match times listed below (all in EST), livestreams of all courts will be available to stream daily from 11 a.m. ET on ESPN’s streaming service.
The RedZone-style whip-around show will be live on the ESPN app daily beginning today through Sept. 4 from 11 a.m. ET to 6 p.m. PT.
Sunday, Aug. 31
- First Round: 12 p.m. (ABC)
- First Round: 3 p.m. (ESPN2)
- First Round: 4:30 p.m. (ESPN)
- Primetime – First Round: 7 p.m. (ESPN)
Monday, Aug. 31
- First Round: 11:30 a.m. (ESPN)
- Primetime – First Round : 7 p.m. (ESPN and ESPN2)
Tuesday, Sept. 1
- First Round: 11:30 a.m. (ESPN)
- Primetime – First Round : 7 p.m. (ESPN and ESPN2)
Wednesday, Sept. 2
- Second Round: 11:30 a.m. (ESPN)
- Primetime – Second Round : 7 p.m. (ESPN)
Thursday, Sept. 3
- Second Round: 11:30 a.m. (ESPN)
- Primetime – Second Round : 7 p.m. (ESPN2)
Friday, Sept. 4
- Third Round: 11:30 a.m. (ESPN)
- Primetime – Third Round: 7 p.m. (ESPN2)
Saturday, Sept. 5
- Third Round: 11 a.m. (ESPN2)
- Primetime – Third Round: 7 p.m. (ESPN2)
Sunday, Sept. 6
- Round of 16: 11 a.m. (ESPN)
- Round of 16: 3 p.m. (ABC)
- Primetime – Round of 16: 7 p.m. (ESPN)
Monday, Sept. 7
- Round of 16: 11 a.m. (ESPN)
- Primetime – Round of 16: 7 p.m. (ESPN2)
Tuesday, Sept. 8
- Men’s & Women’s Quarterfinals: 11:30 a.m. (ESPN)
- Primetime – Quarterfinals: 7 p.m. (ESPN)
Wednesday, Sept. 9
- Men’s & Women’s Quarterfinals: 11:30 a.m. (ESPN)
- Primetime – Quarterfinals: 7:30 p.m. (ESPN)
Thursday, Sept. 10
- Women’s Semifinals: 7 p.m. (ESPN)
Friday, Sept. 11
- Women’s Doubles Championship: 12 p.m. (ESPN2)
- Men’s Semifinals #1: 3 p.m. (ESPN)
- Men’s Semifinals #2: 7 p.m. (ESPN)
Saturday, Sept. 12
- Men’s Doubles Championship: 12 p.m. (ESPN App exclusive)
- Women’s Championship: 4 p.m. (ESPN)
Sunday, Sept. 13
- Men’s Championship: 2 p.m. (ABC)
Seeded players at the 2026 US Open
Men’s draw
- Alexander Zverev
- Carlos Alcaraz
- Felix Auger-Aliassime
- Novak Djokovic
- Flavio Cobolli
- Alex de Minaur
- Daniil Medvedev
- Ben Shelton
- Taylor Fritz
- Arthur Fils
- Frances Tiafoe
- Rafael Jodar
- Lorenzo Musetti
- Learner Tien
- Alexander Bublik
- Brandon Nakashima
- Jakub Mensik
- Jiri Lehecka
- Casper Ruud
- Tommy Paul
- Luciano Darderi
- Valentin Vacherot
- Andrey Rublev
- Francisco Cerundolo
- Alejandro Tabilo
- Arthur Rinderknech
- Tomas Martin Etcheverry
- Alexander Blockx
- Cameron Norrie
- Matteo Arnaldi
- Zizou Bergs
- Ignacio Buse
Women’s draw
- Aryna Sabalenka
- Elena Rybakina
- Jessica Pegula
- Coco Gauff
- Mirra Andreeva
- Linda Noskova
- Katolina Muchova
- Iga Swiatek
- Elina Svitolina
- Amanda Anisimova
- Marta Kostyuk
- Belinda Bencic
- Naomi Osaka
- Iva Jovic
- Diana Shnaider
- Sorana Cirstea
- Alexandra Eala
- Ekaterina Alexandrova
- Jasmine Paolini
- Maja Chwalinska
- Anna Kalinskaya
- Madison Keys
- Elise Mertens
- Anastasia Potapova
- Marie Bouzkova
- Emma Navarro
- Barbora Krejcikova
- Sara Bejlek
- Ann Li
- Jelena Ostapenko
- Leylah Fernandez
- Maria Sakkari
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