The U.S. Open, one of the most prestigious tennis tournaments, is set to undergo a significant change this year by expanding to 15 days. This shift marks the first time in the Open era, which began in 1968, that the tournament will commence on a Sunday. Fans who subscribed for ticket information from the USTA were notified of this change via emails sent on Wednesday, revealing the new dates for the season's final Grand Slam event as August 24 to September 7.
The USTA confirmed the extension of the main-draw action for the 2025 U.S. Open in a recent news release. This move aligns the tournament with other Grand Slam events like the Australian Open and the French Open, both of which have already adopted a 15-day format.
While the first round at Flushing Meadows will still span three days (Sunday, Monday, Tuesday), no further adjustments to the singles main draw schedule are planned after the initial round. Previously, the tournament completed the opening round over two days until 2015 when it was expanded to three days.
With this change, Wimbledon remains the only Grand Slam event that starts on a Monday and runs for just 14 days. The U.S. Open's decision to extend its duration not only aims to boost revenue through ticket sales but also seeks to enhance the exposure of the sport. The recent Australian Open, which also transitioned to a 15-day format, witnessed record-breaking attendance figures in both of its extended editions.
Despite the growing acceptance of Sunday starts at major tournaments, the introduction of the 15-day trend was met with some resistance initially. Players like Roger Federer and Maria Sharapova, who participated in the first Sunday matches at the French Open in 2006, expressed their discontent with the change, citing concerns about player preferences and commercial interests.
The USTA highlighted the success of the U.S. Open, noting record-breaking attendance figures in 2024. This strategic shift in the tournament's schedule reflects a broader trend in the tennis world towards longer and more commercially viable events, ultimately aiming to elevate the sport's profile and engage a wider audience.
