A Serious Tennis Fan’s Complete Guide to the 2026 US Open: Tickets, Tips & More

▸ Returning Visitors: Click Here for Latest Updates!
- June 28: Published fully restructured new version of this post to facilitate navigation, including this PDF 2026 US Open Ticket Options and Average Prices: How to Spot a Good Deal — day-by-day ticket options and direct links to check prices and comparison shop on Ticketmaster and Stubhub.
- July 3: Added FAQ: “Which seats in Promenade have obstructed views?”
- August 3: Updated details on shade patterns in Armstrong Stadium in FAQ: “Which seats get the most shade?”
- August 27: The NYT reported that the Open would offer limited $25 evening grounds passes for purchase on-site only through Sep 6: “However, they can be purchased only on-site the evening of entry and on nights that Louis Armstrong is sold out (not including resale tickets).” When I asked the US Open box office to provide more details, they wrote: “No unfortunately we cannot confirm availability beforehand, these specific passes are on a day-to-day basis. Evenings grounds passes are only made available day of based on the capacity of the events and the stadiums.”
- August 29: My new chart outlining how scheduling should work beginning in Round 2: “Who Plays on Which Dates After R1?”
- September 1: Fellow fan Carrie reported on the late-night taxi situation: “I had a great experience with getting a yellow cab at the rideshare area by the NY Hall of Science at around 11:30pm the first two nights. NYPD organized the taxis and the taxi line and I waited only a few minutes in line before I was able to get a cab and a fast ride back to the hotel at a very reasonable cost. There were plenty of taxis waiting to pick up folks. This was probably way faster than waiting for an uber, and the police officer organizing the taxi line even made the sure my driver had his meter on when he saw I was a woman traveling solo late at night!”
- September 3: I share observation on the new post-renovation Courtside and Loge sections in my updated FAQ “What’s different about Ashe after the big 2026 renovation to Ashe Stadium?“
By P.J. Simmons
If you’re a fellow tennis fan planning a trip to the US Open — whether it’s your first visit or your fifteenth — I built this guide for you. As a serious tennis player and fan living in NYC, I feel so lucky that the US Open is in my backyard. I absolutely love the tournament, and find nothing more educational and inspiring for my own game than seeing world-class live tennis.
2026 will mark my 18th time at the US Open, and I’ve learned a ton over the years through trial and error about how to maximize the opportunity, find the best tickets and seats on the Official US Open ticket site on Ticketmaster, StubHub, and other reseller sites, and generally get the biggest bang for the buck. Likewise, I’ve learned so much thanks to fellow fans around the world who have shared their own insights since I wrote the first version of this post over a decade ago.
Below are my top 10 recommendations and practical resources to help you sort through the complexity, understand all the ticket options, and make the best decisions for your own priorities and budget so you have an incredible experience. I’ll continue to update throughout the summer and the tournament. Don’t hesitate to reach out with a question below if you can’t find what you need – I’ll reply as soon as I can.
For my returning friends: Please let me know what you think of this newly restructured and updated version (June 28), which hopefully will make navigation easier and faster for you. Please let me know what you think – I’d really appreciate your feedback!
What Every First-Timer Should Know Before Buying Tickets
Whether it’s your first Open or you just haven’t been in a few years, here are a few things worth understanding before you spend a dollar or make final decisions on when to attend.
Consider taking advantage of incredible FREE opportunities to see world-class tennis and superstars the week before the main tournament (August 23–29)
Before the main tournament begins, there’s a packed week of events at the US Open grounds (“Fan Week”) that offers many opportunities to experience the magic of the Open without spending a dollar on a ticket.
The week kicks off Sunday August 23 with Arthur Ashe Kids’ Day. If you have kids, this is a great day to go with lots of interactive games, music, activities.
Then, the Qualifying Tournament (Monday August 24 – Thursday August 27) is an amazing opportunity for serious fans to see major rising players and incredible tennis up close. 128 of the world’s best male and female players (whose ATP and WTA rankings were just shy of qualifying automatically for the US Open) will compete for the final 32 spots (16 each for men and women) in the singles draws. In 2021, #150-ranked qualifier Emma Raducanu went on to win the US Open women’s singles title – the first Grand Slam champion in history to come through qualifiers. Maja Chwalinska came close to doing the same at the 2026 French Open. Read why Fan Week/Qualies are so special in this excellent piece by Steven Kutz.
Throughout the entire week, there are opportunities to see some of the top-seeded players and biggest stars in unofficial practice sessions (details posted on the practice schedule the morning of).
Note: Fan week also features four special events that require paid tickets: including Mixed Doubles Rounds 1&2 (Aug 25 10am); Exhibition play with Roger Federer (Aug 25 7pm); Mixed Doubles Semis and Finals (Aug 26 7pm); and a “Stars of the Open” exhibition (Aug 27 7pm).
IMPORTANT: TO GAIN ADMISSION DURING FAN WEEK, YOU MUST PRE-REGISTER FOR A FREE FAN ACCESS PASS.
The US Open is much bigger than Ashe Stadium. Get the lay of the land before you make your plan.
Most people think of Arthur Ashe Stadium when they think about the US Open—and understandably so. It’s the largest tennis stadium in the world (almost 24,000 seats) and home to many of the tournament’s biggest matches. But the US Open is so much more than Ashe. Think of it as a massive tennis festival spread across an entire campus. On a typical day during the first week, world-class matches take place simultaneously on Ashe plus 16 other courts.
In fact, some of the most exciting tennis during the tournament happens on Louis Armstrong Stadium (almost as big as the main show courts at Wimbledon, the French Open, and the Australian Open with around 14,000 seats plus a retractable roof in case of rain), Grandstand (with 8,100 seats), Court #17 (2,800 seats) and the smaller field Courts #4-16.
Some important basic rules about how entry and seating works:
- Any of the almost 80 ticket options gets you access to the entire US Open grounds — you’ll find every option laid out in the ticket chart below (2026 US Open Ticket Options and Average Prices).
- Once you’ve entered the US Open grounds, you can access unreserved seats (on a first-come basis) in Armstrong, Grandstand, and on every other court except Ashe stadium. Ashe Stadium has no unreserved seats, so you need to buy an Ashe-specific ticket if you want to get in. Armstrong and Grandstand have both reserved ticket options and unreserved seating. Courts #4-17 are entirely first-come, unreserved seating.
- Grounds entry times vary depending on your ticket: A grounds pass or “Day” session reserved ticket for either Ashe, Armstrong, or Grandstand allows entry when gates first open (usually 9:30am). If you only purchase an “Evening” session ticket for a particular day, you’ll have to wait until 6pm to enter the grounds. Once you’re in the US Open grounds, you can stay as late as you want until closing.
Learn how player and match scheduling works to raise the odds of seeing your favorite players.
Most fans coming to the Open dream of seeing their favorite players in action. But what many first-timers don’t realize is that it’s impossible to predict which players will play on which days, on which courts, or at what time until the detailed “Daily Schedule of Play” is released shortly before the actual match day. So if you buy a ticket to the Open prior to that – which most people do – you’re buying access to matches in a particular round of play, not a guarantee that you’ll see any specific player.
The good news is that having a clear understanding of how scheduling works can dramatically improve your odds of seeing the players and matches that matter most to you. Taking a few minutes now to review these things will put you ahead of the game:
1. Start by getting the big picture of the tournament’s schedule – here’s an overview:
>> You can find a comprehensive, day-by-day breakdown of the schedule and every ticket option here: 2026 US Open Ticket Options
2. Get a sense of what day-by-day match scheduling looks like by reviewing last year’s “Daily Schedules of Play” to get a feel for what types of matches are played on which courts during the various rounds. Keep in mind this is just illustrative: for instance, just because a player was scheduled for certain days or played on certain Ashe Day or Night sessions does not mean you can expect the same for this year!
3. Go deeper: see the FAQ “How can I predict when and where my favorite player will play?” below — it explains how to make educated guesses about who plays when and where.
How to Choose the Right Tickets and Spot Good Deals
One of the most common questions I get every year is some version of: “What’s the best ticket to buy?” The honest answer is that there are many “best” tickets — it simply depends on your priorities and what kind of experience you’re hoping to have. Some fans want the energy of being with 24,000 others in an Arthur Ashe night session. Others are happy spending an entire day roaming the grounds in the early rounds, hopping from court to court. Some want to treat someone special to courtside seats in a final round. Others want the most tennis possible for the lowest price. So the goal is simply to find the ticket that’s best for you.
Below are my top recommendations—followed by a time-saving chart I built to help you compare all the options, benchmark average prices and comparison shop, and make decisions with confidence.
Don’t miss the chance to see world-class players and great matches up close on the other courts beyond Ashe Stadium.

It was awesome seeing Ben Shelton up close for the first time in 2022 on Court #10 in Round 1 (v. Borges)
For my first US Open, I spent about $250 per ticket for a seat in the upper portion of Ashe Stadium for a night match so I’d be guaranteed to see at least one Top 10 player live. While it was certainly thrilling to experience the electricity of an evening Ashe match, I still felt somewhat distant from the action (it’s a mammoth 24,000-capacity venue) and spent much of the time watching the match on the huge video screen. Moreover, because the tournament prioritizes putting the biggest stars on Ashe over the best match-ups, the matches I saw weren’t terribly exciting.
Since then, I’ve become addicted to the unparalleled thrill of seeing many world-class competitors from a few feet away in epic duels on several of the smaller non-Ashe courts (Louis Armstrong Stadium, Grandstand Stadium, the very cool Court #17, and other outer courts #4-#16). Once you have this experience you’ll likely get addicted too. While it’s rare that you’ll see the Top 5 players on those courts, you WILL see other awe-inspiring players in very competitive matches –including seeing rising stars before they become household names, and feel the excitement of “discovering” new talent to cheer for. Over the years I’ve seen countless “next-gen” players up very close for the first time on outer courts before they were super famous — including Carlos Alcaraz, Coco Gauff, Ben Shelton, Frances Tiafoe, Madison Keys, Dominic Thiem, Sasha Zverev, Felix Auger-Aliassime, and many others.
While I recommend everyone experience Ashe Stadium at least once, I also can’t recommend more strongly that you make time to explore the opportunities to see thrilling tennis in more intimate settings on the other 16 courts.
On a tight budget but want to see a lot of tennis? Consider going during Rounds 1 and 2, and aim for an affordable Ashe Stadium (or Armstrong Stadium) DAY session ticket — often comparably priced to a Grounds Pass, but a much smarter buy.

Be sure to take in some Doubles action too. Here was Casper Ruud and his partner William Blumberg during Round 1 in 2024.
Rounds 1 and 2 (Sun–Thurs of the main tournament’s first week) are a great chance to get maximum bang for your buck. There’s so much action across the entire US Open grounds, with matches happening simultaneously on 17 courts all day — and some play stretching into the evening. Crowds are heavy but not as intense as Labor Day weekend. It’s one of my favorite times to be out there.
Many fans assume a Grounds Pass is automatically the cheapest way into the Open — but often it isn’t. Before you buy one, always compare it against Ashe and Armstrong DAY-session tickets. During Rounds 1 and 2 those are often available for a similar price (sometimes less!), and they give you everything a Grounds Pass does — early entry when the gates open in the morning, the run of the whole grounds — plus a reserved seat and rain protection (both stadiums have roofs). You may end up roaming the outer courts more than sitting in that seat — but it’s there when you want it, and it guarantees you a spot inside if one of your favorites gets scheduled in that stadium. And keep in mind: a Grounds Pass won’t get you into Ashe at all (every Ashe seat is reserved). So if having Ashe be part of your experience matters to you, a cheap Ashe day ticket in the early rounds is often the most affordable way to do it.
And because a DAY ticket lets you stay on the grounds into the evening, you’ll get hours of extra tennis on the outer courts well past 6pm — all for the price of one ticket.
If your budget can swing it, I strongly recommend getting a courtside reserved seat in Louis Armstrong stadium (especially between Sep 4 – Sep 7) and/or in Grandstand (especially on Sep 4 or Sep 5).

Me spotted on Netflix “Break Point” series cheering on Taylor Fritz and Brandon Holt at the 2022 US Open – front row during awesome match on Grandstand
As a general rule, I encourage fellow fans to budget their time and money in ways that maximize the possibility of a few magical experiences versus a ton of forgettable ones. For instance, if you’re opting between multiple days of cheap nosebleed seats in Ashe’s Upper Promenade versus applying the same budget towards excellent seats on Armstrong or Grandstand for a couple sessions, I generally recommend the latter.
Louis Armstrong (14,053 seats) and Grandstand (8,125 seats) are the other two main show courts after Ashe Stadium – and they offer a much more intimate experience. A reserved courtside ticket for either can give you access to thrilling matches and players up close that you’ll never forget.
The first time I did this in 2010 I saw an unforgettable marathon slugfest between David Ferrer and Fernando Verdasco from the first row of the old Armstrong stadium… It gave me a memory I will treasure forever. Ever since, I’ve made it an annual tradition to go with friends to get excellent courtside seats in Armstrong during the 3rd Round or Round of 16. In 2019, I got to see Matteo Berrettini crushing balls in the Round of 16 on Armstrong from the second row (and my phone exploded with texts when my friends and I were spotted on ESPN frequently cheering for him). I’ve had similar transporting experiences in Grandstand over the years – including sitting first row behind-the-server for a match between Auger-Aliassime and fellow Canadian Denis Shapovalov.
Both stadiums also feature general admission seating on a first-come basis, but getting good GA seats can be tough and involve long lines for the higher-profile matches — so having a reserved courtside ticket gives you the dual benefit of skipping long lines plus incredible proximity to the players.
If you’ve never done it, consider splurging once on a courtside Ashe seat.

Me caught on ESPN cheering very loudly for Carlitos from front row Ashe (lower left) during 2024 Round 2 (v Botic van de Zandschulp)
After dreaming for years of the possibility, I finally bit the bullet to invest in Arthur Ashe Stadium Courtside seats in 2011 for the first time. It was bliss. Ever since, I’ve made an annual pilgrimage to experience Ashe Courtside with a few close friends at least once.
What most people don’t understand about the mammoth Ashe stadium until they’ve been in person is that even Loge seating is fairly high up because (a) the stadium is very vertically oriented (seating is on a sharp incline) and (b) there are two levels of suites above Courtside before the first row of Loge even begins. So when you’re down in Courtside, you feel like you’re in another world. The feeling of being that close to greatness in Ashe’s electric atmosphere is pretty amazing.
Here’s a video I shot of Federer from the front row in 2011, the very first time I sat courtside at Ashe. I found a great deal on a resale ticket on Labor Day during the Round of 16 and got to witness Federer perfection from a few feet away. Best money I’ve ever spent.
Before you compare options, get clear on what matters most to you for this particular visit — seeing a favorite player, incredible proximity, atmosphere, the most tennis for your money, shade, flexibility, or certainty. The more familiar you become with the market, the easier it becomes to recognize real value when you see it.
Here are 4 steps to making sure you make your decision with confidence:
- Know the benefits/restrictions of each type of ticket – read “What Each US Open Ticket Type Gets You” below.
- Review the day-by-day ticket options and average prices in the chart below. It will give you valuable context for smart decisionmaking, including up-to-date price ranges of what to expect for every single ticket option plus benchmark ranges from last year’s Open.
- Comparison shop — best done on a computer. For my full step-by-step process — which sites, how to read the maps, what to avoid — see “Which ticket site should I use?” under Before You Buy below.
- Scan the topics below under “Before You Buy — Common Questions” to dive deeper into many important questions that may impact your final decision about what’s best for you.

Before You Buy — Common Questions
▸ Should I buy now or wait? Will prices go up or down?
The frustrating reality is: it depends — and it’s impossible to predict with certainty. Buying US Open tickets can be a bit like investing in the stock market: knowledge and good judgment dramatically improve your odds, but there are always surprises because so many variables are involved.
One thing many first-time buyers don’t realize is that the inventory they see today may look very different tomorrow, next week, or later in the summer. Much of the market is driven by resale, because the USTA typically makes relatively few Standard tickets (“blue dots” on Ticketmaster) available, with most inventory pre-allocated to subscribers — and even Standard tickets are dynamically priced rather than sold at a fixed “face value.” As a result, prices can move in unexpected ways.
Historically, some sessions get cheaper as more resale tickets hit the market and sellers compete, while other high-demand sessions rise substantially. Who gets scheduled on which days, courts, and sessions matters too. Last year (2025), schedulers surprised everyone by putting the blockbuster Djokovic–Alcaraz semifinal in the day session rather than at night — so day prices spiked and night prices dropped.
Resale tickets are almost always available until the last minute, so patient buyers sometimes find great deals — but waiting trades certainty for risk. The best advice I can give: familiarize yourself with typical prices for the sessions you’re considering so you can recognize a good opportunity when you see one. The chart above is built for exactly that — every option, this year’s average ranges, and last year’s day-of benchmarks (for context, not prediction). One clue: if you enlarge the Ticketmaster map and see few tickets, scarcity often signals prices may keep rising; abundant inventory often means more downward pressure.
▸ Will the tournament release more Standard tickets and Grounds Passes?
Sometimes yes — but in a completely unpredictable way. The USTA has historically released additional Standard (“blue dot”) tickets throughout the summer for some sessions, sometimes for surprisingly good seats. There has never been a reliable pattern for which sessions or ticket types get more inventory, and Grounds Pass inventory can fluctuate too. My advice: check periodically, especially in the mornings, but don’t count on it for any specific session.
▸ Will I still get good tickets if everything looks expensive right now?
Usually, yes. One of the biggest misconceptions among first-time buyers is that the inventory available when tickets first go on sale is all there will be. In reality, more resale inventory appears throughout the summer, and the USTA often releases additional standard tickets too. The market keeps evolving right up until the tournament begins — and sometimes even on the day of the matches.
▸ Which sessions are the best deals?
This varies year to year, and some of the best last-minute deals turn up when the lineups aren’t what people expected (last year, for example, a marquee semifinal landed in the day session instead of the night). Still, here are a few sessions that tend to be overlooked and have historically offered relatively good value:
- Armstrong evening courtside, week 1 — exciting under the lights in a big stadium, but demand is lower because many fans choose day-session tickets instead (understandably, since a day ticket lets you in as soon as gates open, so you can catch as much tennis as possible). The trade-off: an evening-only ticket won’t get you onto the grounds until 6pm. But it can be an affordable way to see bigger names from a far better vantage point than the upper tier of Ashe.
- Quarterfinal day sessions — the biggest-name lineups almost always go to the night sessions during the quarterfinals. With many tourists gone and locals leaning toward evenings, day tickets here are often cheaper than the Round of 16.
- Labor Day Ashe evening — historically cheaper than other Round-of-16 sessions, since many tourists have headed home and demand dips. You still get great matches, and it’s a great time to experience Ashe at night.
▸ How do I see the exact location of seats I might buy?
Use the “Map View” on Ticketmaster for any particular session provides the best reference for the exact location of specific seat(s). After you click on the session/stadium that interests you, choose Map View, then mouse over or click any of the dots to see the exact section, row, and seat number. This is also helpful if you’re comparison shopping with Stubhub or other resale sites, whose maps may only feature sections and zones and not individual seats.
KEY SEATING CHARTS AND SHADE MAPS
ARTHUR ASHE STADIUM
- NEW 2026 Arthur Ashe Seating Chart
- My NEW 2026 annotated Ashe Stadium SHADE map
- Ashe “Interactive Seat Viewer” (updated for 2026) to give you a sense of what view is like from specific seats – which from my experience tends to make seats look like they’re closer than they actually feel when you’re there, but helpful nonetheless.
Update on the Renovated Loge Section
In previous years, I recommended prioritizing the lower half of Loge when Courtside wasn’t in the budget, because even the front rows of Loge were already relatively high up. With the new design, the front rows of Loge now sit meaningfully farther from the court (only 5 of the original 13 rows of Loge remain) – so sitting in Loge is only marginally better than lower Promenade, making it hard to justify paying much of a premium.
A warning about the first row of the new Loge section: The roof of the luxury suites just below juts out like a sore thumb from the front row, both creating a visual and emotional barrier to the court. Here’s a photo I took from the new Section 231 Row A.
LOUIS ARMSTRONG STADIUM
- Louis Armstrong Stadium Seating Chart (Official)
- Louis Armstrong Chart (with my annotations)
- Armstrong Interactive “View from Seat” Map
- My annotated Armstrong Stadium SHADE map
GRANDSTAND
▸ What’s different about Ashe after the big 2026 renovation to Ashe Stadium?
A lot. 2026 brings a huge change to Ashe: a major renovation added 2,000 new Courtside seats and removed around 2,800 Loge seats to make room for the expanded courtside area and newly designed luxury suites between the Courtside and Loge levels. Promenade remains exactly the same.
My initial observations after spending a few days watching play from various sections of Ashe in 2026:
The New Courtside
- Courtside seats (even higher rows) remain qualitatively much, much better than Loge and Promenade, which now feel even more remote. Overall, though, courtside feels far less intimate. And more numbers create intense crowds in the “Club Level” corridors (where you get drinks and food).
- Noise levels are worse than ever in the stadium due to the larger numbers of people in courtside and folks in suites, many of whom are drinking heavily and carry on conversations at full voice. All it takes is a few loud conversations to spark a chain reaction: background conversations become white noise, and everyone feels permission to talk loudly.
- Gone are the days when you would be embarrassed for standing in an aisle except during changeovers. The longer stairways — coupled with the highly questionable elimination of the continuous walkway at the top of Courtside — means people take too long to get to their seats.
- The addition of two cordoned-off Courtside rows (“100A-100E”) with walkway behind the umpire chair feels, to be perfectly frank, obnoxious. One the one hand, I applaud the move to put Players’ Boxes into the first row on this side (section 100A) and directly opposite (105AA). And I understand the need to reserve parts of these rows (especially 100G) for VIPs like Billie Jean King and provide special security for them. But selling the rest of these seats to ultra-rich subscribers — many of whom skip matches in favor of hanging in suites or resell the seats at out-of-reach, exorbitant prices — is infuriating to someone like me who has spent hard-earned savings on those seats in the past and literally been moved to tears of joy and appreciation to be in them watching favorite players.
The New Loge
In previous years, I recommended prioritizing the lower half of Loge when Courtside wasn’t in the budget, because even the front rows of Loge were already relatively high up. With the new design, the front rows of Loge now sit meaningfully farther from the court (only 5 of the original 13 rows of Loge remain) – so sitting in Loge is only marginally better than lower Promenade, making it hard to justify paying much of a premium.
A warning about the first row of the new Loge section: The roof of the luxury suites just below juts out like a sore thumb from the front row, both creating a visual and emotional barrier to the court. Here’s a photo I took from the new Section 231 Row A.
I’ll update the FAQ on views from seats as soon as I can with a few more photos, but wanted to share this update in real time (Sep 3, 2026).
▸ Which seats get the most shade?
ASHE STADIUM
The roof creates a huge amount of natural shade all day for many seats. The most shade is in the South and West sections. Next-best is the North. The most sun (to avoid for Day sessions) is on the East side. See my Ashe shade map. I will update this with more details after I’ve experienced Ashe post-renovation in person during Fan Week this year.
GRANDSTAND
Much less shade overall, but South and West are again better because the sun is more at your back. GA seats higher under the overhang — especially the Southwest corner — get the most.
ARMSTRONG STADIUM
Sections 1–8 (South and West) are best overall for shade, with Section 2 the best (in shade all day). Sections 11-16 (East) are the worst and sit in direct afternoon sun (however the top couple of rows are shaded all day due to the overhang from the upper deck). See this basic overview of the Armstrong shade pattern – then see these additional photos showing how various sections are impacted throughout the day. Additional details:
- Section 1 is fully shaded until around 12:30pm, then some rows and some seats in the first 8-10 rows start getting some sun). See this photo.
- Sections 17-18: Fully shaded until around 12:30pm, then lower rows start getting sun. By about 2:15, many of the first 8-10 rows (rows E-O) are getting sun – see this photo and this photo. By 3pm a few more rows in 17 and 18 get sun – see this photo. By around 4pm (not sure exact time) all of 17 and 18 are shaded completely again
- Sections 3-8 (West side/Chair umpire side) is in full sun at 11am, but the shade gradually moves down to blanket more and more rows such that by 12:30pm the top 10 rows (appx) are in shade and by around 1pm all seats are fully shaded.
- The last 2 rows in the lower bowl around the entire stadium stay shaded (under the overhang from the upper bowl).
- Sections 8-11: Rows U and above are always shaded, most other seats always in direct sun.
▸ Which sections and seats have the best views?
Most people consider “behind the server” seats (the North or South ends of the court) the best — and prices reflect it. For first-timers, that’s my top recommendation. It’s the angle used for broadcast: you can follow point construction and see the court from the perspective of the player on your side of the net, without moving your head side to side. Here’s a photo of the same perspective (from higher up seats) in Armstrong. Here’s another photo from Ashe courtside front row.
Corner sections are also widely considered to be highly desirable — and for good reason. They carry many of the same advantages of the above, with the added benefit you can see the player on your side of the net from the front as their hitting the ball not just the back. Here’s a photo from the new Armstrong from that perspective.
As a serious player myself, I personally love sitting courtside as close as possible in lower rows of sections where seats are practically on the court, perpendicular and near to the actual baseline (e.g., section 120 in renovated Ashe) because it gets me physically even closer to the players and more on the same level. Sitting in the lower rows, I feel even more like I’m on the court with them. I feel the speed of the game. In these seats, I personally enjoy watching one player at a time sometimes to see their footwork, how they prepare for the next ball, etc. Here’s a photo from Ashe courtside from that perspective.
For Loge or Promenade in Ashe, I generally recommend the lowest rows you can get regardless of location, since Loge — and especially Promenade — are already quite high up.
For Day sessions, factor in shade (West, Southwest, and Northwest get the most relief; see the shade question above). The umpire chair is never a real obstruction, but in very low rows on that side it can be a minor annoyance.
▸ Which seats in Promenade have obstructed views?
There are a handful of specific seats worth avoiding in Promenade based on reader reports in the comments over the years and posts on “View from my Seat.” Two recommendations based on every obstruction complaint I’ve ever heard about the Promenade:
1. Avoid aisle seats in Promenade rows A-E (due to large glass safety panels at the bottom of aisle stairways).
At the bottom of every aisle staircase, there’s a clear safety panel (with a metal support bar) to keep people from stumbling over the ledge. These sit at the ends of the rows, all the way around the stadium. If you’re in one of the first several rows (roughly A through E) AND in the seat or two directly beside an aisle, that glass and bar can cut right across your view of the court. Fans report this year after year, always in the same spots: the aisle-adjacent seats in the low rows. A few rows up, or a few seats over, and the problem disappears. The added bonus of skipping these seats: you’ll avoid fans walking up and down the aisles (which they’re only allowed to do in Promenade).
2. Unless you are fairly tall, avoid Row A in Promenade due to the metal safety rail. The front row of the Promenade has a horizontal rail along it. For many adults it’s a non-issue — you see right over it. But if you’re on the shorter side, or bringing kids, the rail can sit annoyingly close to your sightline to the near baseline. My advice for most folks is to avoid the first row altogether. Rows B and C give you virtually the same view with zero rail, and Row A’s extra legroom probably isn’t worth the tradeoff.
Check out photos from other fans of particular seats in Promenade at “View from my Seat.”
Note: I am not able yet to address questions about structural obstructions in the newly renovated Courtside and Loge sections – I’ll update after I’m there this year.
▸ Day session or evening — which is the better value?
For most fans, day sessions offer better overall value. You’ll typically get more tennis, more scheduling flexibility, and grounds access from morning until late evening. Evening sessions often feature big names and a special atmosphere under the lights, but you’re usually paying for fewer matches. Which is “better” comes down to whether you care more about the quantity of tennis or the energy of a showcase night session.
▸ Is a Grounds Pass worth it?
Sometimes — but usually not. Many fans assume a Grounds Pass is automatically the best value; often it isn’t. Before buying one, always compare prices for Ashe and Armstrong day-session tickets. If they’re available for a similar price, you get all the same grounds-access privileges plus a reserved seat and valuable rain protection from the stadium roofs.
▸ Should I buy a subscription or multi-session plan?
For most serious fans, I don’t recommend it. Most multi-session and first-time subscription plans are only for Promenade seats — so high up in that huge stadium that you’ll watch much of the match on the Jumbotron or through binoculars. It can take years to upgrade to Loge (only available with the very expensive full-series plan). For the price of a full-series plan (well over $2,000 each) you could buy several amazing seats across the tournament — or two excellent seats for the Men’s Final. And there’s always a glut of Promenade Ashe seats on the resale market, so an entire series of Promenade seats can be hard to resell.
▸ Which ticket site should I use? How to comparison shop?
Start with Ticketmaster, then compare resale. My process:
- Consult 2026 US Open Ticket Options and Average Prices: How to Spot a Good Deal to learn the average price ranges for the sessions you care about.
- Always check the official Ticketmaster US Open site first — on a computer for the fastest navigation. Use “map view” (click any section), try different sortings, and use multiple tabs to compare sessions. Ticketmaster shows both Standard tickets (“blue dots” — face value, most often Promenade, occasionally Loge/Courtside) and resale tickets (“red dots”). Surprisingly, resale red dots are often the best value, because resellers undercut each other. Tickets stay on sale up to 59 minutes after a session starts if inventory remains, and both Ticketmaster and StubHub make it easy to relist if your plans change (you need a US bank account to re-list on Ticketmaster).
- Compare availability and prices with StubHub and any other preferred resellers to see if you can find an even better deal for comparable seats. Other sites I’ve never had any problems with include Viagogo, VividSeats, SeatGeek, or Ticket Liquidator. I personally no longer recommend TickPick after two very poor experiences. My “2026 US Open Ticket Options” chart linked above links directly to every specific Ticketmaster and StubHub session ticket option.
- Only buy resale tickets that specify the exact Section, Row, and Seat (or seat range) matching the stadium seat maps in this post. Double-check what you receive matches what was advertised; reputable resellers refund a misrepresented ticket (but then it’s on you to find another).
- Never buy off Craigslist or classified sites — too many scams, and NYC law bans “scalping” within 1,500 feet of the venue (effectively everywhere off the subway), with undercover police on site.
- Going with friends? Consider buying a mix of cheap and amazing seats and trading off time in the great one (Promenade vs. Courtside, or across stadiums) — I do this every year. All tickets are mobile-only; if you don’t have a smartphone, Ticketmaster customer service can move yours to Will Call.
- For package deals (tickets + hotel/transport/VIP), trusted options include Championship Tennis Tours, Grand Slam Tennis Tours, and Steve Furgal’s International Tennis Tours.
▸ Are resale ticket sites safe?
Generally, yes — provided you use reputable marketplaces. In some cases resale tickets are actually better values than standard tickets, because sellers compete on price. Before buying, always verify the section, row, and seat numbers, and make sure the ticket is clearly marked for mobile transfer.
▸ How can I predict when — and where — my favorite player will play?
While you can never be absolutely sure whether your favorite player will be scheduled for a Day or Night session (or on which court) until the Schedule of Play is released the day prior to matches, you CAN predict which DATE your favorite players will play if they advance after the Round 1 schedule is announced. Here’s a chart showing which players would play on which days after Round 1 if they advance (based on the pattern from the first two days of Round 1).
To be absolutely sure you see your favorite player, consider waiting until the schedule is published the day prior (start checking frequently early afternoon, usually out by 5:00pm), then immediately go to the official Ticketmaster US Open site or other resale sites like Stubhub to grab a resale ticket. This strategy requires, however, that you monitor the ticket situation closely in the days prior and are prepared to act immediately when the schedule is announced. Also, if you see tickets becoming scarce and prices going up in the days prior, you may conclude it’s worth taking a chance and purchasing based on an educated guess.
Another way to see your favorite player up close is to watch them when they’re scheduled for practice on the practice courts. See Tip #9
- Only the biggest superstars (like Carlos Alcaraz and Coco Gauff) are sure to be scheduled on Ashe – others might be scheduled on Armstrong, Grandstand, or field courts. Schedulers have been known to put even the #1-ranked player in the world on Armstrong or Grandstand, as they did in 2021 with then #1 Simona Halep during Round 1 (on Grandstand) and then #2 Aryna Sabalenka (Armstrong).
- There’s never any sure way to predict whether players will be scheduled for DAY or NIGHT sessions. Officials try to spread the wealth and be fair to players by alternating players between Day and Night sessions. Contrary to popular belief, they do not always schedule the biggest stars at night. The one exception to this is Quarterfinals, when biggest stars are almost always scheduled for the night sessions.
- For Men’s Semifinals, we learned last year (2025) never to assume that the biggest starpower matches would be put on the Night session: they shocked everyone and put the Alcaraz v Djokovic match on during the Day session, and Sinner v Auger-Aliassime at night.
How to Get the Most of Your Visit
The night before you go, check the Schedule of Play
1. Download the official US Open Everywhere App (search “2026 US Open Tennis”) for the latest schedule, scores, and live updates. I also recommend SI.com’s tennis page for terrific day-to-day coverage and analysis.
2. Be sure to check the Schedule of Play here (or on the App) to identify the matches that most interest you and build your plan around that.
3. If you are targeting the first match of the day on either Grandstand or Armstrong and if you don’t have a reserved seat, aim to get in line early at either the East Gate (for Armstrong) or South Gate (for Grandstand) so you can be among the first to enter when gates open at 9:30am. Then speed-walk over and grab the best seat you can.
4. If you’re a player, you might be interested in reading my ten ideas for watching a pro match to help improve your own game— some of the ways I challenge myself to watch live tennis more deliberately from the perspective of a player who wants to improve.
Check out the practice courts for close sightings of the superstars
Check the practice schedule here (or on the US Open App) the night before and the morning of your day at the Open. Note: the best time to see top players practice without fighting as many crowds is during the Fan Week (see Tip 1).
Don’t drive unless you really have to — here’s how to get there
My top recommendation is to take the Long Island Railroad (LIRR) to “Mets-Willets Point.”
It’s super fast (under 20 minutes from midtown Manhattan) and drops you literally steps from the US Open’s East Gate. You can take it from either Moynihan Train Hall (8th Avenue between West 31st-33rd) or Grand Central. Look for “Port Washington” train on the monitors (signage may say “GREAT NECK” or “PORT WASHINGTON” — double-check the train number.) See 2026 LIRR schedule here. Download the MTA TrainTime app to purchase tickets. Important: the Mets-Willets LIRR stop is NOT accessible for fans with disabilities — exit instead at Woodside/61st St and transfer to the 7 train (or just take the 7 to Mets-Willets Point).
The subway #7 train is also a convenient (and the least expensive) option.
Takes a bit longer, but runs 24 hours. Stops include Grand Central. Download the MTA App for train time and routes. If you must drive: See the US Open’s driving directions and parking details. Plan extra time when the Mets are home (Aug 24-30 and Sep 4-6); I recommend arriving no later than 8:30am on Mets’ dates to be on the safe side. A good alternate parking option is the Shops at Skyview – about a 10-minute walk to the East Gate (and you can reserve a spot in advance for a discounted rate here). Consider buying a resale parking pass on StubHub for a specific lots. Fellow fan Harry notes street parking under or south of Highway 495 is viable if you don’t mind a walk.
Thinking of using UBER/ LYFT/ TAXI? They’re great getting out to the Open – but can be a nightmare coming back after a night session.
To the Open, set the destination to “Billie Jean King National Tennis Center” (drops near the South Gate) or “Mets-Willets Point” (near the 7 train, then walk the footbridge to the East Gate). After a night session, be ready for long waits and heavy surge pricing — thousands of people will be trying to do the same. Alternatives: reserve a car service in advance (I’ve used Riverside), take the LIRR or 7 into Manhattan and hail a cab there, or hail under the 7 train on Roosevelt Ave (or use the Curb app).
Consider staying nearby in Queens and walking or biking.
Fellow fan Mark stayed at an Airbnb on Queens Boulevard about 2 miles away: flat terrain, good bike lanes, and bike racks across from the South Gate — “a fun and hassle-free way to make the commute.”
Coming directly from Laguardia?
It’s only a 9-minute cab ride — or take the Q48 public bus to the “Roosevelt Av/Willets Pt” stop (around 30 minutes). You can check your bag at the US Open before you enter the grounds.
More Common Questions - Good to Know Before You Go
▸ What can I bring — and what’s not allowed? (No backpacks!)
Be sure to review this official complete list of prohibited items before going! To help clarify some common confusions:
- You CAN bring a drawstring bag (click here for example) but NOT a backpack with two straps
- You CAN bring a digital camera with video capabilities (however they do NOT allow “Video cameras or recording devices”, which includes GoPros)
- You CAN bring a plastic or metal water bottle 24 oz or less to refill on site (but NOT anything glass!)
- You CAN bring a fanny pack: but if you do you’ll still need to go through the “with bag” security line
- You CAN bring sunscreen in lotion form only, NOT aerosol cans
- According to the US Open bot on the website: “Outside food or beverages (excluding alcohol) CAN be brought into the US Open grounds, but must fit into one sized bag. There are no exceptions.”
- There is storage outside both East and South Gate entrances if you need it: (in 2025 it was $10 per locker, $20 for large items including suitcases). Bag check for American Express cardholders is discounted (1 bag per card).
Be prepared to wait in a potentially long security line if you have any bag at all (i.e. an enclosed object that doesn’t fit in your clothes), whereas you can breeze through a separate express line for those without bags.
Before Leaving, Don’t Forget…
- Download your mobile tickets to your mobile wallet (e.g. Apple Wallet or something like WalletPasses on Android)
- Sunglasses and sunscreen (lotion not spray)! If you forget, La Roche offers free samples just inside the EAST gate entrance.
- A backup phone charger (e.g. a Mophie) if you have one – although there are Chase-sponsored free chargers on site.
- A lightweight white towel (and/or lightweight neck gaiter) to protect exposed skin from sun or to sit on when in unreserved seats, which can get hot and uncomfortable.
- Reusable plastic water bottle (to refill using any of the many water fountains).
- A small umbrella if rain may be in the forecast
- Dress in layers as it can get hot during the day and occasionally chilly at night
- Contacts wearers: A very small bottle of contact lens solution in case you get something in your eye
- FYI: There are two entrances to the grounds: (1) the main entrance, the “East Gate,” located near the Subway/LIRR; and (2) the “South Gate” entrance near the iconic World’s Fair “Unisphere” (globe) – see map above. While lines tend to be shorter by the South Gate, the wait may end up being about the same because there are fewer attendants and metal detectors.
▸ Can I exit and re-enter the US Open grounds?
DAY SESSION ENTRY TO US OPEN GROUNDS (Gates open usually 9:30 most days, 11:00am Finals weekend)
- With either a Grounds Pass (Day) or a DAY-session reserved ticket in Ashe, Armstrong, or Grandstand), you can enter the US Open grounds as soon as gates open (usually 9:30am, 11am on Finals weekend)
- Enter the US Open Grounds through security with your ticket scanned at the East Gate or South Gate; if you have a reserved stadium seat, your ticket is re-checked entering that stadium. Once you enter the US Open grounds with any ticket, you can stay as late as you want until closing.
- Note: DAY-session reserved tickets for Ashe or Armstrong only entitles you to that seat for the Day-session matches — after which you will have to leave your seat but can remain on the US Open grounds and access general unreserved seating on every court except Ashe (which has no unreserved seating).
- You can exit the grounds and re-enter as much as you’d like before 6:00pm (you can’t re-enter the Grounds after 6:00pm).
EVENING SESSION ENTRY (6:00pm)
- If you only have an Evening session ticket, you have to wait until 6:00pm to enter the grounds.
- If you are already in the grounds and also hold an Evening reserved tickets (for Ashe or Armstrong) for the same day, you do NOT need to exit and re-enter the grounds.
- If you’re in Armstrong for the Day session (courtside or GA), you’ll leave your seat between sessions while they clean, but you can stay in the Armstrong concourse.
▸ What if it rains?
The good news: since both Arthur Ashe and the new Louis Armstrong have roofs, far more fans can keep watching even
if it rains.
The bad news: if you’ve invested in Grandstand seats or just a Grounds Pass, there’s less consolation. Keep in mind weather forecasts are notoriously unreliable and change by the hour — there’s always hope showers pass quickly.
In the rare event of an all-day rainout (or under 60 minutes of play), the session may be rescheduled to the next day and your ticket honored then — or, if you bought directly from Ticketmaster, you may be able to trade tickets for another session this year or next (see the US Open’s somewhat complicated 2026 Inclement Weather Policy).
Worst case, look for the silver lining: you’ll be among thousands of fans you can grab a specialty cocktail with, huddle under shelter, and watch an Ashe match together on the big screen.
▸ Is grounds admission free on the second Thursday (Sep 10)?
One of the best-kept secrets: for years the US Open has quietly offered free grounds admission on the second Thursday of the main tournament (gates usually open 11am or noon; you must arrive before 5pm) — a chance to see the Men’s Doubles Semifinals plus all-star wheelchair players, the world’s top juniors, and standout collegiate players.
If you’re a serious fan — especially a doubles player — this is a day not to be missed.
▸ Food
FOOD: There are a bunch of options on site, but they aren’t cheap! See my chart outlining examples of the food stands by area on the grounds.
- This PDF includes several menus from past Food Village stands. Every year there are some new additions and substitutions, but many of these will still be around in 2026.
- Korilla BBQ is one of my favorites, but lines are usually among the longest.
- Poke Yachty is absolutely delicious and lines move quickly because they’ve nailed their system.
- Oyster Bar behind Grandstand has killer ceviches and lobster rolls.
- Hill Country BBQ, Curry Kitchen, Fish Shack and Fly Fish are also delicious.
- Restaurants in Queens not on the grounds
▸ What are perks for cardholders?
- AMERICAN EXPRESS CARDHOLDERS: Bring your Amex card if you have one! See full Amex Benefits at US Open here. Perks from 2025 likely to be repeated in 2026:
- (1) Amex Card Member Lounge on the 2d Level of the Amex “Fan Experience” (where anyone can also play a “Glow Tennis” mixed reality interactive game and get a complimentary manicure with tennis themed nail art).
- (2) Centurion Suite in Armstrong (Exclusive to Platinum and Centurion Members). Book in advance on Resy
- (3) Book complimentary court time in NYC area at over 500 tennis and pickleball courts and unlock special access to peak reservation times when using your Amex.
- (4) Check your bag for a reduced fee at East or South Gate
- (5) Get a one-time $20 statement credit when you spend $100 with your enrolled card at participating US Open merchants
- (6) Get a free earpiece/radio to hear ESPN match commentary
- (7) Skip lines and grab concession items quickly (checkout-free shopping) at the Amex Shop in South Plaza .
- CHASE CUSTOMERS? Check this Chase site for updates on perks for 2026.
- Click here to make a reservation to access the “Chase Lounge”
- Other past perks have included offering cool video+mobile “Chase Charge & Watch” chargers
▸ Recommended places to stay?
This is not an area of expertise for me, but I trust fellow tennis fanatic Melissa, who maintains a great list of hotels appealing to all budgets here.
Fellow fan Mark recommends staying in Queens and biking, based on his experience: “We packed our bikes and stayed at a nice AirB&B on Queens Boulevard, a little over 2 miles from the stadium. Queens has a great network of dedicated bike lanes and a friendly attitude toward bikers, and best of all – the terrain is flat! Once at the grounds, there are bike racks across from the South Gate entrance and in front of the security tent that handles baggage claim. It is a fun and hassle-free way to make the commute for anyone that so inclined!”
▸ Grounds access on Finals Weekend?
Grounds Admission tickets usually get issued at some point over the summer for Finals Weekend (Fri-Sun Sep 11-13) on Ticketmaster.
You can’t access Ashe with these tickets, but you can walk the grounds, see juniors and wheelchair finals, and watch Ashe matches on the big screens.
Final Tip: Pay It Forward When You Can
If you have the opportunity, consider a random act of kindness for fellow fans during the tournament. Our tennis community is big, but in a way it’s small — and our passion is infectious; do something kind for someone today, and they’re likely to pay it forward.
For instance, if you’re leaving your great Ashe (or Armstrong or Grandstand) seat for the day/night while matches are still going, as you exit consider consider gifting it to a fan who’s waiting outside the entrance hoping someone like you might offer. Giving someone on grounds your seat when you’re done isn’t as easy as it used to be, given tightened Ticketmaster restrictions preventing transferring after the ticket is scanned and preventing screenshots from within the Ticketmaster app… But with a little creativity and effort you can pretty easily make it happen, and the gesture might create a lifelong memory for someone else. Here’s how:
- Take a screenshot of your ticket in your phone’s WALLET (Ticketmaster will block screenshots from within the app).
- For Armstrong or Grandstand, simply text someone else the screenshot and it should hopefully suffice.
- For Ashe:
- If gifting to someone already IN the stadium, a screenshot from your wallet should suffice — including if you’re leaving the Courtside/Club level area entrance and you want someone already in Ashe to benefit from your seat (from Loge or Promenade.
- If gifting to someone already in the Open grounds but not in Ashe already: You’d need to walk with them to the Ashe entrance, re-scan your ticket (telling the ticket scanner that you’re letting your friend go to your seat) AND give them a screenshot (which they’ll need to show to ushers or for entry to Club level); OR you’d need to walk with the friend(s) as if you were going to re-enter with them, hand the friend your phone to get scanned, then have the friend discreetly pass the phone back after they are “in” (then just turn around as though you changed your mind about entering themselves at this time).
I’ve gifted a lot of tickets over the years, and it always feels wonderful.












PJ,
US Open announced on Twitter that Serena and Venus are playing doubles!
How awesome is this?
I’m pumped about this. I’d appreciate any ticket strategies for this match! TIA!
Hey PJ, I have Ashe day tickets for 8/29. How do you recommend getting the most out of the day? Most of the matches I want to see in the morning/mid-day overlap in Ashe/Armstrong. Given that a match averages 1 hr and a half, and the scheduled times are about an hour apart, do you need to leave early from one match to see another match? Especially if you want to grab unreserved seats? Or are there often enough seats regardless of time? It is my first time going to the U.S. Open, so just trying to have some type… Read more »
Hey Tom, I’ll be there Monday too! The women’s matches average about 90 minutes, but the men’s… count on double that. Most matches don’t have an hour gap between them – they run them consecutively as fast as they can. (If you’re seeing estimated start times on Google or somewhere, you can ignore then… Just go by the times on the official app / US Open website, which will have a start time for matches on each court and often a “not before” time before certain matches to make sure players aren’t caught off guard if things run early. As… Read more »
Hi again PJ, sorry for bother so much, I have only one question, so in case they advance Nadal and Alcaraz will be playing Quarter finals on September 7th??? Of course one in the day and one in the evening but, September 7th right?
Hi Jose, not a bother! Nadal and Alcaraz would both play on Sep 7 if they advance. And yes, one would play during Day, the other at Night (because they wouldn’t play each other as they’re both in different quarters of the same draw). PJ
Hi, PJ,
They have Serena and Nadal practicing in Ashe today Saturday August 27.
But that information was not updated until after 9am.
I am coming from 2 hours away.
Since tomorrow Sunday is the last day to catch practice, what
are the chances that Serena and Nadal will be there.
Hey Linda, yeah they usually only post the daily practice schedule the morning of… All of Serena’s scheduled practices this past week during qualies week have been in the morning, so strong chance if she practices tomorrow it will be a similar time. No way at all to predict whether they’ll practice tomorrow, unfortunately. I would think there’s a very strong chance, but can’t say for sure.
Thanks.
I wish they’d post the schedule earlier in the morning.
They seem to wait until 8am or later.
I was checking the app a little before 8am and nothing was there.
Today would have been nice to be there.
Besides Serena and Nadal, Coco and Iga and Emma are scheduled Ashe.
Saturday’s practice schedule went live on Friday at around 11:30pm.
But it was revised in a very big way on Saturday AM to include big name stars (ie – Nadal and Iga were updated to be on Ashe) to practice in front of the large crowd on kid’s day.
Thanks, Tom.
We decided to take a gamble and go today, Sunday.
We did see Venus, Carlos Alcaraz, and Nadal practice in Ashe.
Too late to see Serena. 🙁
We also walked over to the smaller courts and saw Qinweng Zheng, Leylah Fernandez, Jelena Ostapenko, Sofia Kenin.
Does winning a US Open series event affect a player’s draw in the US Open? It seems like the US Open draw is fixed before the last of them are done. So the name US Open series doesn’t make sense unless it helps to feed into or affect the US Open draw/standings
As far as when they make the call for who initially qualifies for the main draw — I believe it’s usually third week of July when they publish the “entry list” (which is only after the first Series event). Then they make wild card decisions in subsequent weeks (with the final 16 spots in men’s and women’s draw saved for the winners of the Qualifying Tournament). So conceivably, results from US Open Series events could impact Wild Card decisions… But to your point, there doesn’t seem to be any official connection from a qualifying perspective, so the name doesn’t make… Read more »
Hi PJ, thank you so much for this amazing blog. I took your advice from earlier in the summer and waited until the schedule of play for Nadal’s session and scored some tickets to Ashe Evening on Tuesday August 30th! This is my first US Open and I’m super excited to see my favorite players! I also purchased a Day Session for Monday at Armstrong to see Halep with closer seats to experience the open all day. My question is, how does the general admission work for these “reserved” tickets? For example, if I wanted to watch Fernandez’s Evening session… Read more »
Hey CJ, you’re welcome! Sounds like you’re going to have an awesome first experience, I’m excited for you! For Armstrong, the entire lower bowl of the stadium is entirely reserved: you can only access it with a reserved seat ticket, so you can come and go as often as you like during the entire 3-match day session without having to worry about losing your seats. For the evening session if you want to go to the unreserved seats in Armstrong, they are on the UPPER level and it’s first-come basis; if you leave your seats in the unreserved section, you’ll… Read more »
Thank you PJ! I will be sure to note this. I can’t wait for Monday and Tuesday!!
PJ,
What are some first round matches you are excited for?
For me, on Monday it’s:
Kyrgios-Kokkinakis
Carreno Busta-Thiem
For Tuesday, looking forward to:
Schwartzman-Sock
Goffin-Musetti
Osaka-Collins
Muguruza-Tauson
Raducanu-Cornet
Tom, you read my mind– I was going to reach out to you and some others to ask if you’d weigh in this very question so we could include in a collective summary! In addition to the great match-ups you mention, I’m definitely stoked to see Guaff-Jeanjean and would love to see Leylah Fernandez play if I can stay that late… During the day prioritizing Ben Shelton’s match against Borges (great profile on Shelton here). I’m also a big fan of Auger-Aliassime and Taylor Fritz, so excited for their matches. Khachanov-Kudla should be fierce. Ruud-Edmond should be solid. Others please… Read more »
Hi PJ! I had an unbelievable experience at the open! It was everything I hoped for and more than I imagined! I rushed over to the open after I landed in NY, and I got to watch Halep practice on Sunday with Cornet in Armstrong. I also got Halep to sign my jumbo tennis ball! Unbelievable view and atmosphere in that stadium, I had section 7 G seats in Armstrong where I saw Murray, Halep, and Keys play great matches. I also got to watch some of Thiems match as well. Half the time I couldn’t believe I was at… Read more »
CJ you MADE MY NIGHT. I’m so so happy to hear this and to know you had such a rich set of experiences! BTW I was at the Rafa/Rinky and Osaka/Collins session too, which was so great. Rinky! Holy cow. Thank you so much for letting me know it worked out! Safe travels and hope you come back again soon! PJ
Hey PJ – this is my first time living in NYC during the Open & your guide has been a complete gamechanger. THANK YOU THANK YOU. I am planning to watch some practice sessions tomorrow. Are the P1-P5 courts open to the public? The US Open website lists them as ‘off air’ so not sure what that means but want to make sure there’s seating (or I’ll take standing!) to watch the P1 court where it looks like Rafa & Serena will be practicing tomorrow. If you happen to be around I would love to buy you a drink as… Read more »
Hey Marty, as far as I know, practices will definitely still be happening tomorrow – including on P1-P5. (I think the “off air” reference is just for video coverage, and they may have been off-air when you checked because it was after practices were done for the day?). Definitely check the schedule before you head out just to be sure, but I’m 99.9% sure they’ll take place as usual tomorrow. I won’t be back there till Monday but thanks for the kind drink offer 🙂 – please let me know how your day goes! PJ
Thanks PJ! You were totally right on the ‘off-air’ definition and all of the practices happened as listed. For others reading this, the practice courts are open to the public, there is limited raised bleacher seating and also a court-level hallway with mesh fencing you can watch through (not great for photos but as close as you’ll get to players – Nadal stood literally right next to me through the fence). I am so glad I stumbled across this site – would have never known about the opportunity to see so many top players practicing (and for free!) this weekend.… Read more »
So glad to hear this! Thanks so much. Yes, I totally think it’s worth going out on Wednesday – because even if you only go into Ashe for a little bit with your Ashe ticket (or even not at all), there is so so so much more tennis happening everywhere!
Hey Pj how are you? it’s me this year again can you please update the PDF of Men’s BOTTOM Half of 2022 US Open Singles Draw, please!, thank you for your help
Hi Ramon, great to hear from you! Yes I will update tomorrow to include the qualifiers! PJ
Hi, Apologies if this has been asked before, but I couldn’t find it in previous comments….but if I buy a Grandstand seat for Monday, would that seat be good for the Fritz night match (noted not to start before 6 PM)? Your ticket option descriptions mention that Grandstand tickets are good for the day sessions, so does that mean any night sessions are all GA? (On a side note, THANK YOU for this site, I’ve used tirelessly this year and last and it’s been a life-saver, I recommend it to anyone looking to go!)
Hi Kristen, YES your tickets would be good for the entire Grandstand program on Monday! Grandstand sessions are always one big session – no separate evening session. Reserved seats are valid for all 4 matches. I have courtside Grandstand seats myself Monday and am so excited for that lineup! And THANK YOU for the very sweet words, much appreciated! P.J.
Hi PJ… Seems Sept 3 is a possible day for Rafa huh? Are you gambling on day or night, or do you recommend waiting until Sept 2 to buy? Thanks for the incredible resource!
Hey Jared, Sep 3 is DEFINITE for Rafa if he advances. Whether he’s Day or Night is impossible to predict (see this post, point #2 for why. Whether to buy now or wait is a judgment call individuals have to make based on risk tolerance (and budget). Personally, I almost always wait until the schedule comes out (I’ve been burned too many times speculating). My philosophy is: you may spend a bit more on an individual ticket if you wait, but you’ll definitely spend less than if you try to buy both sessions to be sure. And you can apply… Read more »
I’m planning to watch night session on Arthur Ashe on the 29th, will I be able to watch the match on court 17 in the afternoon or no?
Hi Lyle, the earliest you can get in with your night session ticket is 6pm – so you can go right to Court 17 and catch whatever is still on then (hopefully Thiem- Carreño Busta will still be in progress at that point). PJ
Hi PJ! This is my first US Open and absolutely love your article as a guide!
I’m looking to see Rafa play and have bought tickets for Sep 1st (Thu) day session – those seem to be much more expensive than the night session, is this simply due to speculation?
When is the schedule for Thursday expected to be released?
Hey Monica, thank you!! So great to hear that. The Thursday higher prices for Day probably reflect 2 things: (1) yes, probably speculation on the part of some fans that Rafa will be scheduled for Thursday Day after being scheduled for Tuesday night (although it’s a really dangerous assumption to count on them alternating… just one case in point: in 2019, Djokovic was scheduled for 3 consecutive Ashe NIGHT sessions and Federer for 3 consecutive Ashe DAY sessions (Days 3, 5, and 7) – and SO many people felt burned when they invested in tickets counting on an alternating scheduling;… Read more »
Thanks so much for the quick reply, really appreciate all the insight! I might just avoid all the speculation and buy night tickets for Ashe as well just to be safe!
If anyone is leaving after the Serena Williams match and willing to pay it forward, I would love to see Kyrgios v Kokky!
me too! haha I bought Armstrong, thinking they would put Meddy on Ashe pm since he was last years champion.
Hey P.J.
I cannot thank you enough for this blog and I learn so much for my ticket purchase strategy from your responses to the questions.
I still took a risk last night and booked evening Ashe for Rafa betting even my friend’s money haha.
I also have evening Ashe for Labors Day Monday for some out of town friends and I hope scheduling Gods remain favorable and Rafa progresses.
When will Thursday schedule be available so I book for Rafa with certainty? And any tips on finals purchase strategy? I can only afford the cheapest ones on that day.
Hey Prady, I’m so happy to hear it’s been helpful and so glad you scored tickets for Tues night with Rafa! The Thursday schedule will be posted at some point on Wednesday… You have to keep checking throughout the day, because there’s never any set time– and sometimes they release the Ashe schedule before everything else. I’d start checking as early as Noon and keep refreshing. For Finals, I hesitate to make strong recs about timing purchases… If it were me personally I’d hold off a bit, as prices are stratospheric right now. If for any reason Rafa is out,… Read more »
Thank you for the advise on finals. I’ll just wait and watch.
Thank you! I am going for the first time and this was really helpful. I am super excited…I bought courtside seats to Armstrong for the day session on Labor Day and cannot wait!!
Awesome!! So glad to hear it. I LOVE that day in Armstrong. Hope you have an incredible time! PJ
Hi PJ! According to US Open Twitter:
“Monday’s order of play at Arthur Ashe Stadium:
12 p.m. ET
Daniil Medvedev vs Stefan Kozlov
Coco Gauff vs Qualifier
7 p.m. ET
Serena Williams vs Danka Kovinic
Nick Kyrgios vs Thanasi Kokkinakis”
Schedule up!!!
A few grounds recommendations (went yesterday for Fan Week) as late summer in NYC is hot and humid! Those dark plastic seats get uncomfortably hot, so bring something to sit on if your seat gets any sun exposure. The Grandstand was frankly unbearable for much of the day. What helped: water fountains and bottle fills throughout (bring that reusable bottle! Evian was $6 for a small) and free sunscreen samples (sponsor booth somewhere). If you’re there before 7pm, put on sunscreen, hydrate, and wear sun protection! I was also able to bring snacks, but security probably won’t be that lax… Read more »
Ellie, outstanding – wholeheartedly agree on all counts, THANK YOU much for sharing these! (FYI for anyone reading there’s a La Roche sunscreen sample stand just inside the East Gate entrance after you scan tickets). P.J.
PJ, Thanks for the real time updates. You are just too awesome and I am so glad I came across this blog site. I really appreciate you taking time to help us. So, I am coming back to the open after 10 years and will be there Wed-Fri. The only tickets I have purchased so far is Friday day session since I am watching that day with a friend. Other than that I was waiting for the line up before buying Wed and Thurs sessions. I am really keen on watching Nadal and Serena and you have given some good… Read more »
Hi Nishant, thank you for the very kind words! First, great you have tix for Friday already – prices that day have been going through the roof. I actually recently wrote a separate blog post on the question about Serena and Rafa because so many folks have similar questions here. Long story short, it’s dangerous to take financial risks around predictions given erratic scheduling decisions in past years that defy any clear patterns. Case in point from the 2020 and 2019 US Open tournaments: >> In 2020, Serena’s 1st Round match (on Day 2) was a DAY session; 2d Round… Read more »
Hi PJ! Back again with another question now that we’re getting close. Like so many other people I’m trying to optimize budget-wise for seeing Rafa. I am interested in the Thursday match on the 1st but of course as you mentioned, we won’t know if it’s Day or Night session. Something else you also wrote was that organizers try to spread things around so would you say that they usually alternate day and night with the big names? i.e. when the Order of Play comes out, if Rafa is shown playing Day on Ashe for R1, would it be likely… Read more »
Hi Shannon, great question and one that many are asking right now. Here’s what I just wrote to someone who asked a similar one: I actually recently wrote a separate blog post on the question about Serena and Rafa because so many folks have similar questions here. Long story short, it’s dangerous to take financial risks around predictions given erratic scheduling decisions in past years that defy any clear patterns. Case in point from the 2020 and 2019 US Open tournaments: >> In 2020, Serena’s 1st Round match (on Day 2) was a DAY session; 2d Round match (Day 4)… Read more »
Thanks very much for the response, PJ. Appreciate all the info you’ve put together and the time you’re spending answering questions for the community!
PJ, Thanks! for the real time update. Tremendous job on this website – I really appreciate you taking the time to help us all. Already have tickets for Wednesday day – day might turn into night as well there now 🙂 Take care.
Hey Alan!! So great to see your name pop up here! 🙂 You are most welcome, it’s such a pleasure. I won’t be there Wed day but hope you have an awesome time and look forward to seeing you again one of these days hopefully soon. P.J.
Hi PJ
Any idea why round 4 evening courtside tickets seems to be 25-30% higher than 2021? I want to buy then if Kyrgios and Nadal advance (hoping they are evening sessions) – assuming given 2021 price chart I should wait to buy tickets? Hard to know I guess
Hey Craig, overall I’m having sticker shock this year too – big time. A few things: (1) Standard tickets are priced using “dynamic pricing”, and rise and fall based on overall demand – which is higher this year… but I can’t believe how much some of them have been allowed to go up: (2) demand is was lower last year because of more concerns and rules around COVID; demand is heightened this year with fans spending more to see Serena one last time and Nadal because they don’t know how many more shots they’ll have. I wish I could give… Read more »
That would be ideal but we do not arrive until September 4 so our best option would be kygrios vs medvedev that day and my assumption is that would be Ashe evening
Hi PJ! We met years ago at a Tennis Congress in Arizona. One question I don’t see addressed above: in years past, a courtside evening session ticket (or any ticket that allowed entry to the fancy clubs, like a suite ticket) would allow you enter the grounds as early as 5pm, rather than 6pm. Do you know if that rule is still in effect?
Hi Karen! Great to hear from you!! In the past, that was indeed the case for Courtside tickets – and they used to actually print that at the top of the printed hard copy tickets. With the switch to all-mobile ticketing, this early entry privilege seems to have ended (not sure exactly when, but I think in 2019). I think it may still exist for Courtside subscribers only (a rarified group), but not sure. You can always TRY to enter through the President’s Gate entrance and see if they let you in early… I’ll add this to my list of… Read more »
Thanks – as always, I am in awe of your tennis knowledge! I have a courtside seat for Monday evening (bought before the Serena hoopla), so if I get out of work early enough I will try it and report back on whether I’m successful.
Karen that’s awesome you have those seats!! I will check on Monday morning too so you don’t waste any time trying in the wrong place. I’m pretty sure you’ll have to use the East or South Gate entrances and I’m also pretty sure they will say 6pm… but also would be bad to get there earlier because there will definitely be lines to go through security regardless.
Hi Pj! Thanks for your page it is amazing!
I have a question! I want to see Rafael Nadal.. if he does the quarterfinals, do you know it would be on which day? THANK YOU SO MUCH
Hey Charles, thank you and you’re welcome!! If Nadal makes quarters, he will play on Wed SEP 7. See this chart. No way to predict day or night for sure, but I’d be shocked if they didn’t put him on night session during Quarters. P.J.
Ok thank you! And last question just to make sure.. that means he would play semis on the 9th?
Sure thing! Yes, Men’s Semis all take place on the 9th – so anyone who makes Semis plays that day. However, as with quarters, there is a Day and Night session featuring one men’s semifinal match each (they used to be combined in one session until last year, but unfortunately now they’re split into two). And for that one, if Rafa makes it there truly is no way to predict for sure if it’d be a Day or Night session. P.J.
I will buy day and night on the 9th haha thank you!
That will be one spectacular day!! Enjoy!!
Hey PJ, thanks for all of this information! It says on the US open website that we’re allowed to bring one draw string bag, but I would also like to wear a fanny pack in addition. Do you think this would be allowed?
Hey Carlo, yes no problem! PJ
Hi PJ, I’m planning on going for the day session on Thursday Sept. 1st and aiming for the cheapest Ashe promenade seats. I see they’re around $90-100 right now. Do you think prices for it might go down the day of/night before given it is a day session and there should be ample seats available?
Hi Jessica, one factor I consider when evaluating the risks of waiting is to consider how many standard seats remain for sale and how many resale tickets remain. Unfortunately that session has barely any standards left and relatively few resale tickets overall. Prices have been going up and supply going down over the past week quite a bit for that day. I always preface any guesses on price questions with the caveat that it really is like playing the stock market and it’s really hard to “time the market”… but in this case, I think it’s pretty unlikely prices will… Read more »
Hey P.J, is there any way to tell what time a certain player will play? I apologize if I’m being redundant and this has been answered, but I’m coming from out of the country on the 9th and want to watch Rafa play in the semis (hopefully he makes it), I see that the evening tickets are much more expensive, does that indicate if he advances he’ll be in the evening slot?
Hi Joban, what we know at this point (only based on information released hours ago) is which halves of the draw will play on which days (see this chart summarizing). If Rafa makes semis he will absolutely play on the 9th because BOTH Men’s Semis matches are that day. However, there is a Day and Night session featuring one men’s semifinal match each (they used to be combined in one session until last year, but unfortunately now they’re split into two). And for that one, if Rafa makes it there truly is no way to predict for sure if it’d… Read more »
Thanks so much P.J super grateful for you’re help and excited to be talking to such an awesome fan like yourself. One final question for now (haha) do you know by which day the time slots would be released for who is playing at what time on the semis. Is it right after the quarter final match or is it before that we can tell whose playing at what time?
Hey Joban, you are most welcome! For Semis, the first Men’s match (Day session) will start at 3:00pm, the second (Evening session) at 7:00pm (unless delayed by a long first match). You can see the full lineup of other matches in the Day session here. They will announce at some point on the day before (Thursday) who is scheduled for which slot. P.J.
You’re the GOAT P.J
Thanks Joban you made my night!
Hi P.J. – the official U.S. Open Twitter account put out the following tweet a little while ago, and it seems to be legitimate. https://twitter.com/usopen/status/1562902411882074112
Quote: “Serena Williams will play on Monday. Rafael Nadal will play on Tuesday.”
This would certainly help ticket-seekers narrow their focus a bit sooner. (But importantly, does not guarantee day vs. night sessions for Serena!)
Hey Chris, thanks a million – yes, it is accurate. It was unprecedented for them to Tweet that information, though (a day earlier than ever before). I’ve updated my post and added some graphics to help folks see the implications across the board for all players. And you’re absolutely correct about the “Day v Night” uncertainty! Although for the 1st round, I’d put some good money on them scheduling Serena for night session – one of the only bets of that kind I’d be willing to make, given how wildly unpredictable scheduling has been over the years. P.J.
According to US Open Twitter, “Serena Williams will play on Monday. Rafael Nadal will play on Tuesday”.
Hi Pam, thanks so much – yes it’s official. Was unprecedented for them to Tweet that information, a day earlier than ever before. Likely a lot of pressure given the historical nature of Serena’s last US Open. I’ve updated my post and added some graphics to help folks see the implications across the board for all players. P.J.
What about seats in sections 13-24 in Ashe, behind the Photographers Pit. Are the lower rows obscured by the photographers? Thanks so much!
Hi Anne, thankfully those seats are not obscured by photographers – it’s pretty cool sitting there, actually. The photographers take up what are essentially 2 rows of “AA” on the opposite side. And the benefit of that side is no umpire chair. (A reminder if you’re going for day session tickets, though, that those seats get zero sun relief during the day). P.J.
I have night session Ashe tickets for Monday and Tuesday. With these tickets do I get access to all other ground court night matches or Armstrong/grandstand as with the day session tickets?
Hi Whit, you can enter the grounds with your night session tickets beginning at 6pm and yes, once you’re in the grounds you have access to unreserved seating on a first-come basis on Armstrong, Grandstand, and every other field court. P.J.
Hi PJ, Thanks so much for this great guide! I used it last year and we had an absolute blast! I’m kind of torn with with ticket strategy this year. I know you don’t have a crystal ball, but I’m looking for your advice. We are coming on Saturday the 3rd and Sunday the 4th. I already bought courtside Ashe tickets for Saturday night. Last year we got Sunday of the same weekend tickets in Armstrong on the third row and I liked it better than courtside Ashe because we felt much closer. So this year I was thinking Saturday… Read more »
Hi Katie, you’re welcome, thanks for letting me know it was helpful last year! A few thoughts: – We now know (as of a couple hours ago, quite unexpectedly due to an unprecedented early announcement) that if Serena advances she’ll play her R16 match on SUNDAY Sep 4. See my update in this post. – As for Day or Night predictions for Serena, my only confident guess is opening night (Mon) versus Day. After that, based on previous years’ surprises (which I outline in the post I linked), I hesitate to guess. People have gotten SO burned making those kinds… Read more »
Thanks PJ, I appreciate it! Right after I posted I saw that the schedule was out thanks to some comments here. My wife took a look at the schedule (she’s the bigger tennis fan) and thought that if Serena makes it past round 2 she could maybe make round 4. So we bit the bullet on Sunday courtside Ashe tix. We figure we’ll see great tennis either way. If she makes round 4 and plays at night we’ll just hang around outside and watch on the big tv. And now I’ll look into Saturday Armstrong tickets. Getting HYPED for next… Read more »
Hey Katie, my pleasure! Sounds like a great plan. I’m HYPED for you and your wife! ENJOY!!! P.J.
PJ – any thoughts on court assignments for Monday and Tuesday now that the draw is out? I know it is never safe to bet, but I like to think about the great match-ups. Men – I imagine that the Top 4 men will be in Ashe, though which day/sessions yet. Too bad that none of those matches will be especially exciting, yet extremely expensive. I found a $200 loge seat for Ashe Monday am. Bet I get stuck with Tsitsipas v Qualifier. Eh. But Armstrong could be exciting. I am inclined to buy Armstrong Mon and Tues night sessions now. What… Read more »
Hey Courtney, so as you may have already seen (I’ve been scrambling last hour to update the site) the US Open made the unprecedented move of announcing on Twitter a day earlier than usual which halves will play when: STARTING MONDAY AUG 29: >> Women’s BOTTOM half of Draw – Includes Halep, Sakkari, Jabeur, Kasatkina, Leylah Fernandez, Kontaveit, and Serena Williams >> Men’s TOP Half of Draw – Includes Medvedev, Kyrgios, Carreno-Busta, Tsitsipas, Auger-Aliassime, Berrettini, Ruud STARTING TUESDAY AUG 30 >> Men’s BOTTOM Half of Draw – Includes Hurkacz, Dimitrov, Sinner, Cilic, Alcaraz, Norrie, Shapovalov, Rublev, and Rafael Nadal >>… Read more »
Thanks your wisdom and analysis — of course I know that everything is subject to the whims of the scehduling gods. But you are as close to a US Open deity as a human can be! Thanks again!
LOL you made my day, Courtney, THANK YOU! And thanks SO MUCH for all your amazing substantive contributions each year to make the blog stronger! P.J.
Hi PJ,
The organization already shared the schedule on social media:
Serena Williams will play on Monday.
Rafael Nadal will play on Tuesday.
Bottom half of women’s and top half of men’s including Daniil Medvedev play Monday.
Top half of women’s and bottom half of men’s including Iga Swiatek play Tuesday.
Alejandro, THANK YOU – Kevin just sent to me as well, I was away from computer for work for a bit. This is unprecedented that they announce this so early. I’ll update the blog right away.
Which stadium??? 🙏🏻🙏🏻🙏🏻
Hey Katja, sorry for the delay in replying – have been furiously trying to update the blog based on the very unexpected announcement and reply to a lot of comments. Serena and Nadal will 100% be on Ashe Stadium. They haven’t announced that yet – but it’s one thing we can all be absolutely certain of. We won’t know for sure whether they’ll be scheduled for Day or Night session until tomorrow when they release the actual schedule. Everyone is expecting Serena at Night for Monday – and I agree that’s the most likely scenario. For Rafa on Tues, no… Read more »
US Open official Twitter account just posted which halves of draws play on which days:
https://twitter.com/usopen/status/1562902411882074112
Kevin, huge thanks I literally just saw this a minute ago and raced back to my computer! This is unprecedented. I’ll update the blog right away.
Hi! Thanks for this truly excellent guide! I use it every year. One question for you, that I haven’t been able to answer from your post. I love getting an Ashe ticket for rounds 2 or 3 and being able to jump from court-to-court (including the smaller, side courts) to see a variety of matching, including doubles. My question is, can I still get that variety on the Round of 16? Will most of the side courts (outside of the 3 stadia) still have matches? Thanks!
Hey Josh, you’re welcome and glad to hear that!! During Round of 16, expect most Sunday Round of 16 singles matches to be on Ashe and Armstrong (with a couple possibly scheduled for Grandstand, unclear for this year because they didn’t sell individual tickets for Grandstand so we’re not yet sure whether that means they’ll add more to Armstrong or surprise fans with more on Grandstand) and ALL Monday Round of 16 singles matches will be Ashe and Armstrong. There will be lots of great Doubles (and juniors matches) on other courts. P.J.
Hi, PJ,
Yes, I am curious as to what they’ll do Sunday with scheduling. If they schedule a Men’s R16 match, I guess it will be general admission seating since no tickets are being sold. I wonder why they did it this year. More money for them to sell ticketed seats. I guess we won’t know until the schedule comes out. Not sure what to expect and looking to get tix for Sunday.
Hey Tom, great to hear from you! I’m curious too. Several years prior, you may recall they used to put 2 men’s R16 matches on Armstrong on both Sunday and Monday. Then with the new stadiums they moved to putting one Men’s R16 on Grandstand on Sunday (but not on Monday). This year, with no courtside tickets sold for Grandstand that Sunday, I could see them going in either direction: (1) keeping one Men’s R16 singles on Grandstand so that more folks with Grounds Admission tickets could fill up the stadium and enjoy; (2) or rewarding paying Armstrong ticketholders with… Read more »
Hi PJ
I see the draws have been released but there is no match dates to try and determine when a player may play later in the draw., Do you know when R1 match dates are posted?
Hey Craig, correct. We will know by sometime tomorrow when they release the Day 1 and Day 2 schedules (usually late afternoon or early evening) – that’s when we’ll know which half of each draw will play on which days. See my FAQ#1 for a detailed explanation. In the meantime, FYI (and for any other readers interested), I just created these PDFs using US Open graphics to help everyone better visualize the draws. I’ll update the graphics tomorrow once we know which halves are scheduled when: >> Women’s TOP Half of Draw – Includes Swiatek, Muguruza, Pegula, Badosa, Bencic, Raducanu,… Read more »
OMG yet another awesome graphic for essential information. You rock!
Thank you!!
Hey there!
So I was going to wait until tomorrow when the schedule releases to buy tickets for either Monday or Tuesday night (in hopes of watching Serena play.) However, there are no ticket availability showing up on Ticketmaster. Do you have any idea if this may change? And if tickets to come back, ballpark range of how much they may be on the night Serena plays?
Thanks in advance!
Hey Alec! There are many resale tickets available on Ticketmaster but no standards for Monday Night Ashe and Tuesday Night Ashe. As I mention in my separate post on “how to get tickets to see Serena or Rafa”, it’s highly LIKELY she’ll be scheduled for a night session during Round 1 but not 100%. Evening ticket prices are already quite high with a lot of folks speculating she’ll be on one of the two nights – so to estimate, take a look at the current average pricing and expect at least some increase from there once announced. P.J.
Would you say StubHub or Ticketmaster would be my best bet? Looking to purchase as soon as the schedule is announced. Again, thank you so much for the useful info!
Hi Alec, you’re welcome! IMPT UPDATE: they just announced a little bit ago (unprecedented, a day early) that Serena’s half of draw will play Round 1 matches on MONDAY and Rafa’s half will play TUESDAY. You may want to recalibrate strategy as a result. Still don’t know Day or Night sessions, almost certainly won’t let us know until schedule released tomorrow. I cannot guarantee but would be shocked if they don’t put Serena on Night session (not as confident about Rafa on Tues, could well be Day). I personally would open windows for both Ticketmaster and Stubhub. If you see… Read more »
Thanks for all this great info. We’re looking to fly in for the Open on Fri morning Sept 2. I’d really prefer to attend on Friday instead of Sat Sept 3, but I’m concerned about flight delays. Any tips? Should I consider buying via mobile once I’m sure our flight is on time? Grounds passes once we’ve landed? In advance with ticket insurance?
Hi John, that’s a tough one. Flying out early gives you an advantage – flights leaving early AM have a much better track record for leaving on time, especially as any potential bad weather-related delays strike more often in afternoon. Prices for Saturday are stratospheric, so Friday would definitely be a better bet if you can. If you wait to buy on mobile day of, you WILL be able to get tickets – it’s just a question of pricing. You might pay a premium for waiting if amazing matches are scheduled; you also might benefit by grabbing a last-minute resale… Read more »
Thanks PJ
Hi, PJ,
Since you seem to have connections…
Do you know what happened to practice sessions in Ashe for Thursday August 25,
When I checked in the app at 9am, they showed Serena , Venus, Coco, and others.
Now it is 11am and the only sessions are for Armstrong and the other outside courts.
Do you know what happened?
We are going to try to make it in tomorrow. Sigh.
Which is also Media Day.
What are the chances of catching Serena?
Hey Linda, I don’t know – I saw all those folks scheduled too and was texting some friends earlier this AM urging them to go. Just texted someone on the grounds to ask – will let you know what I hear. If anyone else is reading and on the grounds please let us know what’s up! Wonder if they just removed from the schedule because they were getting slammed? As for tomorrow, no idea: she has already been there practicing each day this week, so I’d suspect she’ll be there again – but she may also opt for an off-site… Read more »
PJ,
Ha ha ha.
I thought I was imagining it.
I see photos of Venus and Serena practicing in Ashe on the website, so they must have been there.
Since Media Day is 11 am to 2 pm in Ashe, Serena will either be in Ashe early or be in Armstrong or practice off-site.
And rain is also predicted.
It is hard being a fan. 🙂
LOL, I’m right there with you! Hard but fun work 🙂 🙂
Hey P.J., when I purchase tickets in Ashe in lower part (courtside view) via a resale from ticketmaster; do they come with a special hospitality service/ offer? Best, Christian
Hi Christian, no additional hospitality for regular courtside seats (apart from being able to access the entire Ashe Courtside/Club level, which is off limits to anyone who doesn’t have a courtside ticket). P.J.
Thanks so much for all hard work, Patrick! My wife and I will be first-timers on 6th and 7th w/no tickets other than as hosted Evening of 7th. Updating ticket strategy for the Quarters as things progress? 😉
Hi Michael, you’re most welcome! Are you hoping to attend the other three QF sessions in addition to the Wed evening Sep 7th that you’re being hosted? If so, the main question is when to pull the trigger on tickets – and unfortunately there’s no easy answer, for the reasons I mention in FAQ #3. To start, I’d recommend looking at the average standard ticket range prices from 2021 in my chart here to start — and then keep a close eye for resale tickets that fall in that range. FYI: Day sessions for QF are always much lower priced… Read more »
Quarterfinal Men’s/Women’s
Tue • Sep 6, 2022 • 12:00 PM
Arthur Ashe Stadium – Flushing, New York
2 Tickets-Sec 58, Row C, Seats 1 – 6*
*You’ll get 2 seats together between 1 – 6…$4,607.03!!
Hey Michael, that’s definitely on the higher end – there are far better deals available, both standard and resale, on Ticketmaster and other reseller sites. (Be sure to click the seating map to enlarge so you see individual dots and can mouse over and compare prices). I suggest you take your time on this one and don’t purchase anything until you see the full suite of options. Also: consider far more affordable Loge seats for some of the QF sessions — you’ll appreciate any courtside seats you invest in even more!
Want my ticket to the Tennis Plays for Peace benefit tonight? It’s yours for free!
Great seat, nearly first row. I can’t make it. I can transfer through Ticketmaster. Event starts at 7 pm. Let me know asap. Contact through instagram @nywalkabouts or twitter @agirlinbklyn
Go suport Ukraine and see Rafa, Iga, Carlos, Matteo, Taylor, Coco, and so many more!
And reply here as well !
Perhaps this was answered earlier, however I see a HUGE variance in Ashe day tickets for Saturday 9/3 ($298) on StubHub versus Ashe tickets in the evening ($90). Do these folks know something others don’t aka Serena likely playing Saturday afternoon!?!?
Hi Patrick, in a word: no, they don’t. The main reason for the variance: It’s round 3, and if you get a Day session ticket you can arrive at 9:30am and stay on the grounds as late as you want (potentially watching a lot more tennis after the Ashe Day session ends) – so a lot more people demand those tickets. If anyone tells you that Serena will “definitely” be scheduled for a specific Day or Night session, they are not well informed – see my post here for a detailed explanation on why. P.J.
Hey PJ! I was wondering you need a fan pass to watch the players practice during fan week or could we just get in and watch them practice without a fan pass?
Hi Aakash! You don’t need a fan pass to enter the grounds during Fan Week. However, if you want to see any of the practices on Ashe, you must register for the fan pass (which you can do on your mobile in seconds, even after you arrive there). P.J.
Hi PJ, great info here. I have already purchased Ashe tix for Friday night (9/2) and was thinking General Grounds pass for Saturday day (9/3) – just to save a few bucks since I am already getting the big stadium on Friday. For R3 on Saturday: What is the experience like for these level tix? Do you have to wait a long time before securing an open, unreserved seat in Grandstand or Armstrong? Will I mainly need to stick to smaller courts to see matches? Will most of the smaller courts still be active at this stage in the tourney?… Read more »
Hi Rivers, Saturday Labor Day weekend is probably the highest attended day of the tournament. Competition for unreserved seats in Grandstand and Armstrong is fierce (particularly for the Men’s Singles matches) – ditto for Court 5 and 17, which will likely feature 1 men’s singles match each. The possibility of rain always adds to the risk for grounds tickets: if it rains at all, demand for protected GA seats on Armstrong becomes insane. That said, if you plan carefully (i.e. study the daily schedule of play the night before you go and plan to arrive VERY early before any match… Read more »
Thank you so much for this resource….tried to be patient but couldn’t ultimately.
Grabbed Armstrong S12 Row E day session on Labour Day. No shade I guess but hoping there’re ok seats. Now thinking about another day earlier in the tournament Sept 1 or 2 to see more matches and outer court action.
Hey Craig, you’re very welcome. Those are sweet seats. Yes, you’ll be in the sun (if it’s sunny that day) – so just bring stuff that’ll make you more comfortable (e.g. a baseball cap, maybe a lightweight white towel to drape over your next or legs). But you probably will be so happy sitting there that you’ll be fine! P.J.
How long should one expect for entry lines for night session on 29th or 30th?
Hi Bill, it’s hard to say with certainty – but those two nights are going to be pretty packed given ticket sales, so I’d recommend arriving at the East or South gate entrance by 5:45pm if you can (gates open at 6pm to evening session ticketholders), then getting over to Ashe Stadium by 6:30-6:40pm because lines for ticketholders to get into Ashe may also be long. If you arrive later you’ll likely be fine, but that’s what I’d recommend to be relaxed about it. P.J.
Hey, this is so helpful! Thank you! My husband and I are going for the first time on Sep 2. I found Ashe evening session S122 suite tickets on StubHub and went for it. I didn’t see suite options anywhere else. I can’t find any information on what all that gets you with the VIP tickets and free beer/food supposedly? Do you know?
Hey Ashley, that is a legit ticket and a rare find — the US Open actually listed an option for individual tickets on Ticketmaster for that particular suite a few weeks ago but it’s no longer listed. The other suites are all either sold in their entirety to corporate buyers or individuals who contact hospitality in advance and buy for their group. Every suite I’ve been to in the past has had different levels of complimentary food and drink depending on the host… And I’ve never been to this particular one hosted by the US Open for individuals, so not… Read more »
Hey, so when the tickets were delivered to me, they said section 122 not S122. I contacted US Open hospitality and they confirmed the tickets are not suite tickets but regular loge section 122 with access to the Overlook. So not what I thought I was getting! FYI to anyone that sees a suite ticket listed, it’s most likely not actually a suite! The US Open rep said you can’t buy them resale, and the seller must’ve used StubHub to get around that. Working it out with StubHub now 😩
Ashley, that’s infuriating to hear. I would push Stubhub hard on that – you have every right to a refund and their buyer protection. Loge + Overlook access is NOT by any means equivalent to a suite. I checked for that session and their site clearly listed 122S for tickets and had that suite light up when you mouse over it. I also reasonably assumed that individuals who purchased legitimate individual suite tickets (which I did see at one point on Ticketmaster available for some sessions) were reselling. It’s possible they came with a stipulation for the buyer not to… Read more »
Stubhub refunded me and gave me $200 off new tickets.
YES! That’s awesome to hear. Stubhub and Ticketmaster have both been great with me over the years in a couple cases when I had an issue. Thanks so much for letting me know.
Which stadium do you think serena Williams will play on the 29th?
Hi Lyle, definitely Ashe – but not necessarily on the 29th. See my detailed post here on why and more details on how scheduling works. PJ