The final Grand Slam tennis tournament of the year is taking place, with matches already beginning in New York City.
In the 2024 edition of the U.S. Open, the first match in Arthur Ashe Stadium features Ben Shelton, the 13th-seed American and last year’s semifinalist, competing against Dominic Thiem, the 2020 U.S. Open champion who plans to retire after this season. This match is set to start at noon, followed by Coco Gauff taking on Varvara Gracheva.
The night session in Ashe on Day 1 kicks off at 7 p.m. with 2017 champion Sloane Stephens facing Clara Burel, followed by a match of Novak Djokovic against Radu Albot. Players in the Louis Armstrong Stadium include Americans Taylor Fritz and Madison Keys during the day, as well as Aryna Sabalenka and 2022 semifinalist Frances Tiafoe during the night.
Here’s a detailed schedule for Day 1 of the U.S. Open:
Arthur Ashe Stadium
12 p.m. ET
Ben Shelton (13) vs Dominic Thiem
Coco Gauff (3) vs Varvara Gracheva
7 p.m. ET
Sloane Stephens vs Clara Burel
Novak Djokovic (2) vs Radu Albot
Louis Armstrong Stadium
11 a.m. ET
Qinwen Zheng (8) vs Amanda Amisimova
Taylor Fritz (12) vs Camilo Ugo Carabelli
Madison Keys (19) vs Katerina Siniakova
7 p.m. ET
Frances Tiafoe (20) vs Aleksandar Kovacevic
Aryna Sabalenka (2) vs Priscilla Hon
The U.S. Open is held at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center in Flushing Meadows, New York City, with matches played on hard courts. Women compete in best-of-three-set matches, while men play best-of-five. The tournament lasts 14 days and features separate day and night sessions. Two primary courts, Arthur Ashe and Louis Armstrong Stadium, are equipped with retractable roofs.
The U.S. Open schedule is as follows:
– Monday-Tuesday: First Round (Women and Men)
– Aug. 28-29: Second Round (Women and Men)
– Aug. 30-31: Third Round (Women and Men)
– Sept. 1-2: Fourth Round (Women and Men)
– Sept. 3-4: Quarterfinals (Women and Men)
– Sept. 5: Women’s Semifinals
– Sept. 6: Men’s Semifinals
– Sept. 7: Women’s Final
– Sept. 8: Men’s Final
Last year’s defending champions are Coco Gauff, who claimed her first Grand Slam title at 19 by defeating Aryna Sabalenka in the finals, making her the first American teenager to win since Serena Williams in 1999. Novak Djokovic won his 24th major singles title, a record in tennis history, defeating Daniil Medvedev in the final. At 36, Djokovic became the oldest male champion in the U.S. Open era.
Key insights into the U.S. Open include:
– The total prize money for players has reached a record $75 million, increasing by $10 million from the previous year. Singles champions will each receive $3.6 million, while first-round losers will take home $100,000, a record amount.
Noteworthy stats from the U.S. Open:
– Nine different women have captured the last 10 titles at the U.S. Open, with only Naomi Osaka winning more than one in that timeframe.
– Djokovic’s 24 Grand Slam singles titles tie him with Margaret Court for the most in tennis history; one more win would establish his record.
In summation, both Djokovic and Gauff have expressed their ambitions as they prepare for the tournament ahead.