The Stakes: Record-Setting Prize Purses
Equal pay, six figures from round one
The US Open is the final major of the tennis Grand Slam calendar, following the Australian Open, French Open, and Wimbledon. For decades, the main draw famously opened on a Monday — traditionally the Monday leading into the US Labor Day weekend — before the tournament shifted to an Opening Sunday start in 2025.
Both the men's and women's main draw fields begin competition during the same opening week, but with a 128-player field in each draw, the first round of singles is staggered across three separate days — Sunday, Monday, and Tuesday — rather than starting and finishing in a single day.
Continuing its landmark tradition of equal pay established in 1973, the US Open awards identical payouts across both the men's and women's singles draws — matched exactly at every single round, from the champion's check all the way down to the Round of 128. Stepping onto the hardcourt for a first-round encounter guarantees an athlete six-figure compensation.
2026 vs. 2025: how the purse grew
Total 2026 player compensation reaches $108 million, up 20% from 2025's then-record $90 million — the second straight 20% increase.
Singles prize money (per player)
| Placement | Prize Money |
|---|---|
| Champion / Winner | $5,500,000 |
| Runner-Up (Finalist) | $2,800,000 |
| Semifinalists | $1,450,000 |
| Quarterfinalists | $780,000 |
| Round of 16 | $480,000 |
| Round of 32 | $290,000 |
| Round of 64 Second round | $190,000 |
| Round of 128 First round | $140,000 |
Mixed doubles prize money (per team)
| Placement | Prize Money |
|---|---|
| Champion Team / Winner | $1,000,000 |
| Runners-Up (Finalists) | $500,000 |
| Semifinalists | $250,000 |
| Quarterfinalists | $120,000 |
| Round of 16 | $40,000 |
| Round of 32 First round | $20,000 |
The Arenas: Stadiums & Grounds Capacity
USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center, Flushing Meadows
The tournament takes place at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center in Flushing Meadows, New York. Across its competition footprint, the grounds feature some of the largest show courts in international sport.
| Stadium / Court | Capacity |
|---|---|
| Arthur Ashe StadiumThe largest dedicated tennis stadium in the world. Retractable roof; hosts night sessions and both finals. | 23,771 |
| Louis Armstrong StadiumSecond show court, rebuilt in 2018, with natural airflow ventilation and its own retractable roof. | 14,061 |
| Grandstand StadiumSteep bowl seating that places fans close to sideline action. | 8,125 |
| Court 17Nicknamed "The Pit" — the surface sits eight feet below ground, creating an intense acoustic atmosphere. | ~3,000 |
| Outer Field Courts (13 total)Open-access courts for early rounds. Courts 11 & 12 are the largest, seating up to 1,704 each. | 12,656 |
The Schedule: Path to the Championship
Day sessions at 11:00 AM, night sessions at 7:00 PM
During the first two weeks, matches are split into day sessions (starting at 11:00 AM) and night sessions (starting at 7:00 PM). The official draw ceremony takes place the Saturday prior to the tournament to determine brackets and potential matchups.
Women's singles, round by round
Men's singles, round by round
How to watch
In the United States, ESPN holds the exclusive domestic broadcast rights. Featured matches air across ESPN, ESPN2, and ESPN Deportes (Spanish-language), with ABC carrying both singles finals. Every court streams live on the ESPN App throughout the tournament. All listed times are US Eastern — international viewers should check their local broadcaster, as rights are sold country by country.
The Contenders: Top 32 Seedings
Protecting the highest-ranked players from early collisions
Seeding positions protect the highest-ranked players from facing one another during the early rounds. The men's top seed, Jannik Sinner, headlines a field that includes Carlos Alcaraz and Novak Djokovic, while Aryna Sabalenka leads the women's draw ahead of Coco Gauff and Iga Swiatek.
Notable seed movers since Wimbledon
Rankings swing fast between majors. Here's how a few notable names shifted between the Wimbledon and US Open seed lists.
| Player | Wimbledon | US Open | Storyline |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alexander Zverev | Seed 2 | Seed 2 | Wimbledon runner-up, matched his career-high ranking. |
| Carlos Alcaraz | Withdrew (wrist injury) | Seed 3 | Missed Wimbledon entirely, back and seeded for New York. |
| Taylor Fritz | Seed 7 | Seed 10 | Dropped three spots after an early Wimbledon exit. |
| Linda Noskova | Unseeded, won the title | Seed 8 | Reigning Wimbledon champion, yet only the No. 8 seed here. |
| Naomi Osaka | Seed 14 | Seed 13 | Rode a run that included a win over Sabalenka. |
| Alexandra Eala | Seed 29 (first ever) | Seed 20 | Jumped nine spots in just a few weeks. |
Top 32 women's seeds
| Seed | Player | Country |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Aryna Sabalenka | Belarus |
| 2 | Elena Rybakina | Kazakhstan |
| 3 | Jessica Pegula | USA |
| 4 | Coco Gauff | USA |
| 5 | Iga Swiatek | Poland |
| 6 | Mirra Andreeva | Russia |
| 7 | Karolina Muchova | Czechia |
| 8 | Linda Noskova | Czechia |
| 9 | Elina Svitolina | Ukraine |
| 10 | Amanda Anisimova | USA |
| 11 | Marta Kostyuk | Ukraine |
| 12 | Belinda Bencic | Switzerland |
| 13 | Naomi Osaka | Japan |
| 14 | Diana Shnaider | Russia |
| 15 | Jasmine Paolini | Italy |
| 16 | Iva Jović | USA |
| 17 | Victoria Mboko | Canada |
| 18 | Ekaterina Alexandrova | Russia |
| 19 | Sorana Cirstea | Romania |
| 20 | Alexandra Eala | Philippines |
| 21 | Anna Kalinskaya | Russia |
| 22 | Elise Mertens | Belgium |
| 23 | Maja Chwalinska | Poland |
| 24 | Madison Keys | USA |
| 25 | Anastasia Potapova | Russia |
| 26 | Barbora Krejčíková | Czechia |
| 27 | Marie Bouzková | Czechia |
| 28 | Emma Navarro | USA |
| 29 | Ann Li | USA |
| 30 | Jeļena Ostapenko | Latvia |
| 31 | Leylah Fernandez | Canada |
| 32 | Maria Sakkari | Greece |
Top 32 men's seeds
| Seed | Player | Country |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Jannik Sinner | Italy |
| 2 | Alexander Zverev | Germany |
| 3 | Carlos Alcaraz | Spain |
| 4 | Felix Auger-Aliassime | Canada |
| 5 | Novak Djokovic | Serbia |
| 6 | Alex De Minaur | Australia |
| 7 | Daniil Medvedev | Russia |
| 8 | Flavio Cobolli | Italy |
| 9 | Ben Shelton | USA |
| 10 | Taylor Fritz | USA |
| 11 | Rafael Jódar | Spain |
| 12 | Lorenzo Musetti | Italy |
| 13 | Learner Tien | USA |
| 14 | Alexander Bublik | Kazakhstan |
| 15 | Jakub Menšík | Czechia |
| 16 | Jiří Lehečka | Czechia |
| 17 | Casper Ruud | Norway |
| 18 | Arthur Fils | France |
| 19 | Brandon Nakashima | USA |
| 20 | Frances Tiafoe | USA |
| 21 | Tommy Paul | USA |
| 22 | Luciano Darderi | Italy |
| 23 | Valentin Vacherot | Monaco |
| 24 | Andrey Rublev | Russia |
| 25 | Francisco Cerundolo | Argentina |
| 26 | João Fonseca | Brazil |
| 27 | Alejandro Davidovich Fokina | Spain |
| 28 | Alejandro Tabilo | Chile |
| 29 | Arthur Rinderknech | France |
| 30 | Ugo Humbert | France |
| 31 | Tomas Martin Etcheverry | Argentina |
| 32 | Alexander Blockx | Belgium |
The Spectator's Ticketing Guide
Face value vs. the resale market
Official face-value starting prices
When primary box office sales open, standard baseline price points are structured as follows:
Secondary resale market dynamics
High demand pushes many ticket sales to secondary exchanges. The average main draw entry runs around $288, though early-round weeknight sessions can start closer to $157. Championship finals tickets start near $510 for upper-level seats, with courtside running considerably higher.