The 2026 US Open singles tournament begins on Sunday, August 30, with former champions Novak Djokovic and Daniil Medvedev leading a packed opening-day schedule at Flushing Meadows.
Jessica Pegula opens the Arthur Ashe Stadium programme, Medvedev follows in the day session, and Djokovic takes the court at night before Venus Williams closes the show against Sofia Kenin.
Here is the confirmed Day 1 order of play, the main start times and the matches most likely to drive worldwide interest.
Arthur Ashe Stadium schedule
The Arthur Ashe day session begins at 12 p.m. New York time.
- Jessica Pegula vs Elena-Gabriela Ruse
- Daniil Medvedev vs Hugo Gaston
The evening session begins at 7 p.m. New York time.
- Mariano Navone vs Novak Djokovic
- Venus Williams vs Sofia Kenin
These times mark the start of each session, not a guaranteed start time for the second match. Medvedev will follow Pegula, while Williams will play after Djokovic. A long opening match can move the later contest significantly.
The schedule was published by the ATP Tour in its official Day 1 preview.
Djokovic begins chase for Grand Slam No. 25
Djokovic starts against Argentina's Mariano Navone in the Arthur Ashe night session. According to the ATP, it will be their first tour-level head-to-head meeting.
The four-time US Open champion is attempting to win a record-extending 25th major singles title. Opening-round matches can be difficult to read because a top seed is adapting to the tournament conditions while an underdog can swing freely.
Navone is best known for his clay-court game, while the New York hard court generally rewards Djokovic's return, movement and ability to redirect pace. The tactical question will be whether Navone can extend rallies without leaving short balls for Djokovic to attack.
Medvedev returns to his most successful major
Medvedev, the 2021 champion, faces France's Hugo Gaston in the second match of the Ashe day session. The seventh seed remains closely associated with New York because his deep return position and flat counter-punching have repeatedly worked on the hard courts.
Gaston offers a different rhythm. His use of drop shots and changes of pace can force an opponent away from predictable baseline patterns. Medvedev will still enter as the favourite, but the contrast in styles gives the match a clear tactical hook.
Because Pegula plays first, viewers following Medvedev should monitor the score rather than rely on a fixed clock time.
Venus Williams gets the final Ashe slot
Venus Williams faces Sofia Kenin after the Djokovic match. It is one of the most recognisable first-round pairings on the women's side, bringing together two American Grand Slam champions at the biggest stadium in tennis.
Kenin's early ball-striking and return game can pressure second serves, while Williams will look to shorten points with first-strike tennis. The atmosphere may become a factor if the match starts late in the New York evening.
Again, the listed 7 p.m. time applies to the start of the session. Williams and Kenin will not begin until Djokovic and Navone have finished and the court has been prepared.
Pegula opens the main stadium
Third seed Jessica Pegula begins the Arthur Ashe schedule against Elena-Gabriela Ruse. Opening the tournament's largest court carries a different kind of pressure: the crowd is arriving, the conditions are fresh and the favourite is expected to settle quickly.
Pegula's compact groundstrokes and ability to take the ball early should suit the surface. Ruse needs to protect her service games and prevent Pegula from controlling the centre of the court.
Other Day 1 matches to watch
The Louis Armstrong Stadium day session starts at 11 a.m. local time. Jasmine Paolini plays Veronika Erjavec, followed by American Tommy Paul against Coleman Wong.
The Armstrong evening session begins at 7 p.m., with Elina Svitolina facing Solana Sierra before Alexander Bublik meets J.J. Wolf.
On Grandstand, Jiri Lehecka plays Pablo Carreno Busta, Marta Kostyuk faces Storm Hunter, and Miomir Kecmanovic takes on Denis Shapovalov. Emma Navarro is scheduled not before 5 p.m. local time against Lois Boisson.
US Open Day 1 times worldwide
New York is on Eastern Daylight Time in late August. The Arthur Ashe evening session at 7 p.m. local time corresponds approximately to:
- 4 p.m. in Los Angeles
- Midnight in London
- 1 a.m. in Central Europe on Monday
- 4:30 a.m. in India on Monday
- 9 a.m. in Sydney on Monday
Daylight-saving rules and local time zones can vary, so viewers should confirm the listing with their broadcaster. Match start times after the first contest of a session remain approximate.
What makes opening Sunday important
The expanded Sunday start gives the tournament another major television window and spreads first-round matches across three days. For players, it can create an extra recovery day later in the first week, depending on which half of the draw they occupy.
For fans, Day 1 already offers four former major champions on Ashe: Djokovic, Medvedev, Williams and Kenin. Pegula, Paul, Svitolina and Bublik add further top-level interest across the grounds.
The bottom line
Djokovic against Navone is the headline match of the US Open's opening night, while Medvedev begins his campaign during the day. Venus Williams versus Sofia Kenin closes the Arthur Ashe programme, and Pegula opens it at noon.
This schedule was updated at 22:32 IST on August 29, 2026. Order of play can change because of weather or tournament decisions. Follow the Sports section and read our explainer on the US Open extreme-heat rule for more tournament coverage.
