US Open Tennis Qualifying 2026: Dates, Times, TV Schedule
Updated 20 August 2026
US Open Tennis Qualifying 2026 runs from Monday, August 24 to Thursday, August 27 at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center in Flushing Meadows.
Two 128 player draws produce 32 qualifiers, 16 men and 16 women, for the main draw that starts on Sunday, August 30.
Entry is free during Fan Week, though a free Fan Access Pass is required to get on the grounds this year. All four days air on ESPN2 and stream on ESPN+.
US Open Tennis Qualifying 2026 at a Glance
| Dates | Monday, August 24 to Thursday, August 27, 2026 |
| Venue | USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center, Flushing Meadows, New York |
| Gates open | 10:00 a.m. ET |
| First serve | 11:00 a.m. ET daily |
| Draw size | 128 men and 128 women |
| Qualifiers | 16 per draw, 32 in total |
| Format | Best of three sets, three rounds |
| Admission | Free with a Fan Access Pass |
| US TV | ESPN2 and ESPN+ |
| Main draw starts | Sunday, August 30, 2026 |
When and Where Is US Open Qualifying 2026?
Qualifying sits inside US Open Fan Week, which runs Sunday, August 23 through Saturday, August 29.
Matches are played on the field courts. Grand Slam rules require the same surface as the main draw, so these are the courts the tournament itself will use a week later.
| Day | What is played |
|---|---|
| Sun, Aug 23 | Qualifying Wildcard Challenge, semifinal and final, Courts 4 to 7, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. |
| Mon, Aug 24 | First qualifying round begins, 11 a.m. |
| Tue, Aug 25 | First qualifying round completed, 11 a.m. |
| Wed, Aug 26 | Second qualifying round, 11 a.m. |
| Thu, Aug 27 | Final qualifying round, 11 a.m., 32 qualifiers confirmed |
Thursday is the day to pick if you can only visit once. Just 32 matches are played, and each one decides a main draw place.
Build slack into any travel plan. In 2025 rain wiped out an outer court day and qualifying finished on Friday, August 22 instead of the Thursday.
US Open Tennis Qualifying 2026 TV Schedule
ESPN carries all four qualifying days in the United States. ESPN2 shows a daily window and ESPN+ streams up to 14 courts from first ball to end of play. Tuesday’s ESPN2 window opens an hour early because Mixed Doubles starts at 10 a.m.
| Date | Time (ET) | Event | Where to Watch |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mon, Aug 24 | 11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. | Qualifying first round | ESPN2, ESPN+ |
| 11:00 a.m. to end of play | Qualifying first round, 14 courts | ESPN+ | |
| Tue, Aug 25 | 10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. | Qualifying first round and Mixed Doubles | ESPN2, ESPN+ |
| 8:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m. | Roger Federer exhibition | ESPN2, ESPN+, Disney+ | |
| Wed, Aug 26 | 11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. | Qualifying second round | ESPN2, ESPN+ |
| 7:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. | Mixed Doubles semifinals | ESPN2, ESPN+ | |
| 9:00 p.m. to 11:00 p.m. | Mixed Doubles final | ESPN, ESPN+ | |
| Thu, Aug 27 | 11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. | Final qualifying round | ESPN2, ESPN+ |
| 6:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. | Stars of the Open exhibition | ESPN2, ESPN+ |
Source: ESPN Press Room, August 19, 2026. Schedule subject to change.
How to Watch US Open Qualifying Online
Every qualifying match streams on ESPN+ through the ESPN App, with on demand replays once play ends.
Cord cutters can reach ESPN2 through YouTube TV, Hulu + Live TV, Fubo, DirecTV Stream or Sling Orange. The US Open app carries live scores and the daily order of play at no cost.
Outside the United States, coverage varies by broadcaster. Our US Open live stream guide lists the rights holders country by country.
How US Open Qualifying Works
Each 128 player draw splits into 16 sections of eight. Every section produces one qualifier, so three wins earn a main draw place and one loss ends the week.
- Format: best of three sets for men and women, with a 10 point tie break at 6-6 in the deciding set
- Seeds: 32 per draw, one in the top half and one in the bottom half of each section, so the two highest ranked players in a section can only meet in the final round
- Field: 119 direct acceptances by ranking plus nine wildcards, per the Grand Slam rulebook
- Entry deadline: 28 days before the tournament, which is why the field keeps shifting until the draw is made
- Typical cut: roughly world No. 105 to No. 260
The 128 place main draw is built from 104 direct entries, eight wildcards and the 16 qualifiers. Qualifiers stay unseeded and are drawn at random into the Q slots, which is why one often lands opposite a seed on day one.
A player beaten in the final round joins the lucky loser pool. If a main draw entrant withdraws once qualifying has started, a lucky loser fills the spot and collects the full first round payout. When two or more places open at once, they are drawn by lot.
The Wildcard Challenge on Sunday, August 23 adds one more route in. A semifinal and final on Courts 4 to 7 decide who joins the qualifying field.
Full rules sit in the 2026 Grand Slam Rulebook.
US Open Qualifying Prize Money
The USTA had not published the 2026 breakdown when this page was updated. The 2025 scale below is the most recent confirmed figure and a sensible floor.
| Round lost | Payout per player |
|---|---|
| First round | $27,500 |
| Second round | $41,800 |
| Final round | $57,200 |
| Qualified for main draw | $110,000 minimum |
Losing your opening match still pays $27,500, more than the champion earns at most Challenger events. For a player ranked near No. 200, one week in New York can fund several months on tour.
Full round by round numbers sit on our US Open 2026 prize money page, updated as soon as the USTA announces.
Players to Watch in the 2026 Qualifying Draw
This year the entry list carries unusual weight. Four former top 10 players have to win three matches just to reach the main draw.
- Qinwen Zheng, No. 125: the 2024 Olympic singles gold medallist and former world No. 4, in Grand Slam qualifying for only the second time after elbow surgery
- Jack Draper, No. 143: the former world No. 4 and 2024 US Open semifinalist, whose arm injury has cost him most of two seasons
- Grigor Dimitrov, No. 138: the former world No. 3 who reached the 2019 US Open semifinals ranked No. 78
- Bianca Andreescu, No. 179: the 2019 champion, back in qualifying for the first time since 2018
- Sofia Kenin, No. 118: the 2020 Australian Open champion, in Slam qualifying for the first time since 2023
- Kristina Liutova, 16: the youngest direct entrant, fresh from becoming the youngest active WTA champion in Memphis
- Reilly Opelka, Mackenzie McDonald and Michael Zheng: three Americans with recent Slam main draw pedigree
Names can still move. A main draw wildcard lifts a player out of qualifying, and alternates replace anyone who withdraws. Check the 2026 entry list for the latest.
Watching Qualifying Free at Flushing Meadows
Qualifying is the cheapest tennis in New York. Grounds admission during Fan Week costs nothing, but 2026 adds one step: register for a free Fan Access Pass before you travel.
The pass covers the field courts, the Grandstand, practice courts and the food village. Link it to the US Open app to see the Fan Week calendar and set reminders.
Free with the pass alongside qualifying:
- Arthur Ashe Kids’ Day, Sunday, August 23, 9:30 a.m. to 6 p.m.
- Mixed Doubles qualifying, Monday, August 24, 11 a.m. in the Grandstand, an eight team draw of six direct entries and two wildcards
- Media Day, Friday, August 28, with a live taping of Andy Roddick’s Served podcast
Three Fan Week sessions need a separate ticket:
- Roger Federer: An Icon Returns to New York, Tuesday, August 25 at 7:30 p.m. in Arthur Ashe Stadium
- Mixed Doubles Championship matches in Arthur Ashe Stadium on August 25 and 26
- Stars of the Open, Thursday, August 27 at 6 p.m. in Arthur Ashe Stadium
Main draw seats are covered on our US Open tickets page.
Why Qualifying Is Worth Watching
Qualifiers reach the main draw with three matches already played on the tournament courts, in tournament conditions. Seeds arrive with practice sets.
That edge occasionally rewrites a fortnight. Emma Raducanu came through qualifying in 2021 ranked No. 150, then won seven more matches without dropping a set and beat Leylah Fernandez 6-4, 6-3 in the final. She is still the only qualifier to win a Grand Slam singles title. Botic van de Zandschulp reached the quarterfinals from the same draw that year.
FAQs: US Open Tennis Qualifying 2026
When does US Open qualifying 2026 start?
Qualifying begins on Monday, August 24, 2026 and finishes on Thursday, August 27. Gates open at 10:00 a.m. ET and first serve is 11:00 a.m. ET each day.
Is US Open qualifying free to attend?
Yes. Qualifying falls inside Fan Week, so grounds admission is free. New for 2026, you must register for a free Fan Access Pass to enter.
What channel is US Open qualifying 2026 on?
ESPN2 in the United States, with full day streaming from up to 14 courts on ESPN+ through the ESPN App.
How many players qualify for the main draw?
Sixteen men and sixteen women, 32 in total, after three rounds from 128 player draws.
How much does US Open qualifying pay?
On the 2025 scale, a first round loss paid $27,500, a second round loss $41,800 and a final round loss $57,200. Qualifiers bank at least the main draw first round payout of $110,000. The 2026 figures are not published yet.
Is qualifying best of three or best of five sets?
Best of three sets for both men and women, with a 10 point tie break at 6-6 in the deciding set. The men’s main draw returns to best of five.
What is a lucky loser at the US Open?
A player beaten in the final qualifying round who is drawn into the main draw when someone withdraws after qualifying has started. Lucky losers receive the full main draw prize money on top of their qualifying earnings.
When does the US Open 2026 main draw start?
Sunday, August 30, 2026. The women’s final is on Saturday, September 12 and the men’s final on Sunday, September 13.
Plan Your US Open Tennis Qualifying 2026 Week
US Open Tennis Qualifying 2026 gives you four days of free tennis, a live ESPN2 window each day, and 32 careers turning on single matches. Register the Fan Access Pass, aim for Thursday if you can only go once, and keep ESPN+ open for the outside courts.
Once the qualifiers are set, follow the main draw ceremony and the full US Open 2026 schedule.