NEW YORK CITY — The 2026 U.S. Open officially began in New York on Sunday, drawing thousands of fans to Flushing Meadows as the year's final Grand Slam tournament opened with a record $108 million prize pool.
The tournament began under sunny conditions, with fans arriving early for the opening matches at the Billie Jean King National Tennis Center.
Record Prize Money Highlights Tournament
The $108 million purse is the largest in tennis history.
The tournament has expanded to a 15-day format, with the first round spread across three days.
Organizers have said the larger prize pool is designed to give players a greater share of tournament revenue.
The singles champions will each receive $5.5 million.
The tournament also comes with unusual uncertainty at the top of the men's field.
World No. 1 Jannik Sinner is absent, while defending champion Carlos Alcaraz is returning after a lengthy injury layoff.
Novak Djokovic is also competing as he continues his pursuit of another Grand Slam title.
On the opening day, American Jessica Pegula advanced comfortably, defeating Romania's Elena-Gabriela Ruse 6-3, 6-2.
The tournament's economic importance to New York extends beyond tennis.
Hotels, restaurants, transportation companies and retailers benefit from the influx of visitors.
Queens businesses around Flushing Meadows typically see increased activity during the event.
The U.S. Open also provides New York with a major international showcase.
Fans from around the world travel to the city for the tournament.
That makes the event an important part of New York's late-summer tourism economy.
With several major players absent or returning from injuries, the competition could also produce unexpected results.
For New York, however, the tournament's return represents something more familiar: another late-summer period of packed stadiums, international visitors and global attention.
