US Open 2026 Third-Round Weekend: What to Watch at Flushing Meadows

The draw thins over Labor Day weekend

The 2026 US Open, the fourth and final Grand Slam of the season, enters its decisive middle phase this weekend at Flushing Meadows in Queens. After first-round play from 30 August to 1 September and second-round matches on 2 and 3 September, the men's and women's singles third round is scheduled for Friday, 4 September, and Saturday, 5 September.

Day sessions begin at 11:00 a.m. Eastern, with night sessions starting at 7:00 p.m. Both Arthur Ashe Stadium and Louis Armstrong Stadium host featured matches, while outer courts carry the remainder of the 128-player draws toward the Round of 16.

Schedule structure for 4–6 September

Friday, 4 September, and Saturday, 5 September, are dedicated entirely to third-round singles, alongside the opening rounds of men's and women's doubles. By Sunday, 6 September, the tournament moves to the fourth round — the Round of 16 — for both singles draws, signalling the transition from a crowded fortnight to the final week's elite bracket.

The US Open's published order of play, released each evening for the following day, determines court assignments and session times. Fans attending in person should expect Arthur Ashe night sessions to run past midnight when matches extend to three or more sets.

Context for the 2026 edition

The 2026 US Open runs through 13 September, with the women's singles final on Saturday, 12 September, at 4:00 p.m. and the men's final on Sunday, 13 September, at 2:00 p.m. Total player compensation exceeds $90 million, with first-round losers receiving $112,000 — figures that underscore the stakes attached to every third-round match this weekend.

Hard-court form from the North American summer swing typically carries into Flushing Meadows, making third-round weekend a reliable indicator of which players have adapted to the DecoTurf surface and the late-summer humidity of New York.