US Open Expands To A 15-Day Tournament For First Time  - UBITENNIS

US Open Expands To A 15-Day Tournament For First Time 

By Adam Addicott
3 Min Read
Arthur Ashe Stadium (foto X @wta)

This year’s US Open will begin on a Sunday for the first time in the Open Era after organizers announced the addition of one extra day to the tournament. 

The United States Tennis Association (USTA) confirmed the Grand Slam will take place over 15 days instead of 14 with the first round matches being spread over three days. The Sunday start will enable an additional 70,000 spectators to attend the event which is held in Flushing Meadows, New York. There will be six ticketing options available with day and night sessions reserved for the Arthur Ashe Stadium and Louis Armstrong Stadium. There will also be tickets for the Grandstand court and a general grounds admission. 

“With more planned Main Draw competition days than ever and Fan Week featuring six days of free grounds admission prior to the Main Draw, the 2025 US Open is set to offer the most access for fans in the event’s 145-year history,” the USTA said in a press release. 

The US Open is the third Grand Slam to expand its length to 15 days. The first to do so was the French Open in 2006 followed by the Australian Open in 2024. As it currently stands, Wimbledon has not committed to any plans to expand its schedule.

While play is starting a day earlier, the USTA states, ‘No further adjustments to the singles main draw schedule after the first round are planned.’ The decision follows three consecutive years of record-breaking attendance at the event. Last year, more than one million people visited the US Open over three weeks, an 8% increase from the year before. 

Supporters of the move argue that the expansion will make the tournament less congested and easier for fans to follow matches. However, this will only apply to first-round matches, as the rest of the tournament schedule is unaffected.

On the other hand, critics will say the move is just a way of making more money from fans. According to the USTA’s financial statement, the operating revenue generated by the 2023 US Open was $514 million. Meanwhile, direct expenses totaled $199 million.

This year’s US Open will start on Sunday, 24 August and end on Sunday, 7 September. Jannik Sinner and Aryna Sabalenka are the current singles champions. 

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