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The networks of ESPN has exclusive live coverage of the 50th anniversary of the U.S. Open, tennis’ fourth and final Major of the 2018 calendar year. The tournament, hailing from the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center in Flushing Meadows (Queens) in New York City, begins August 27 and culminates with the Women’s Championship on Saturday, Sept. 8, and the Men’s Championship on Sunday, Sept. 9, both at 4 p.m. ET.
For the first time, all 16 courts will be covered, with 130 hours on television and 1,300 more streaming live on the ESPN app via ESPN3 and ESPN+, the new direct-to-consumer video service from The Walt Disney Company’s Direct-to-Consumer and International (DTCI) segment and ESPN.
ESPN’s tennis announcers, analysts and studio hosts for the U.S. Open are (in alphabetical order by their last name): Darren Cahill, Cliff Drysdale, Chrissie Evert, Mary Joe Fernandez, Mardy Fish, Chris Fowler, Brad Gilbert, Jason Goodall, John McEnroe, Patrick McEnroe, Chris McKendry, Patrick Mouratoglou, Tom Rinaldi, Pam Shriver, Rennae Stubbs.
Of the last 54 Majors, 46 have been won by either Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal or Novak Djokovic (plus three each by Andy Murray and Stan Wawrinka whose injuries make them unlikely contenders for the US Open title). In fact, Nadal and Federer – seeded No. 1 and No. 2 – have taken six of the last seven, three apiece with Djokovic back at peak level and taking the big trophy at Wimbledon last month.
The sport’s stars of the future are closer and closer to being the stars of today. Sascha Zverev (21) is ranked No. 4, and Stefanos Tsitsipas (20) is suddenly in the top 15 while the top 40 includes Borna Coric (21), Hyeon Chung (22), Karen Khachanov (22), Denis Shapovalov (19), Andrey Rublev (20) and American Frances Tiafoe (20). His fellow 20-year-old Americans Taylor Fritz, Michael Mmoh and 6-foot-11-inch Reilly Opelka all show great promise. 6-foot-10-inch John Isner is also a contender. The American recently reached the Wimbledon semifinals, a career best.
Seven different women have won the last seven Majors (four were first-time Grand Slam champions) — Serena Williams, Jelena Ostapenko, Garbiñe Muguruza, Sloane Stephens (2017 US Open), Caroline Wozniacki, Simona Halep and Angelique Kerber the most recent, at Wimbledon.
After last year’s U.S.A. sweep of the semifinals, the home crowd will have plenty of favorites to cheer for in addition to defending champion Sloane Stephens and six-time winner Serena Williams: Madison Keys and two-time champ Venus Williams are currently in the Top 20 with CoCo Vandeweghe in the top 25. All of those seven women who have won the last seven Major titles are all good bets to prevent an eighth name joining the list. If none prevail, however, look for two-time Major champs Petra Kvitova or Victoria Azarenka to win it all…unless it’s 2016 finalist Karolina Pliskova or Elina Svitolina, both ranked in the top 10. If it is Serena Williams the last woman standing, it would be her first title as a mom and her 24th Major title, tying the record held by Margaret Court.
The following are the U.S. Open tennis events including dates, start times, and TV networks. All times Eastern.
All Courts (up to 16), all day plus Spanish-language coverage
Monday, August 27 11:00 a.m. – Wednesday, September 5 on ESPN3 and ESPN+ (live)
Thursday, September 6 noon – Sunday, September 9 on ESPN3 and ESPN+ (live)
First Round Play
Monday, August 27 noon-6:00 p.m. on ESPN; 6:00-7:00 p.m. on ESPN2
Featured matches at Arthur Ashe Stadium
· Former winner Stan Wawrinka vs. #8 Grigor Dimitrov
· Battle of former champions, #16 Venus Williams vs. Svetlana Kuznetsova
Featured matches at Louis Armstrong Stadium
· Top seeded Simona Halep vs. Kaia Kanepi
· 2012 winner Andy Murray vs. James Duckworth
· Defending champion #3 Sloane Stephens vs. Evgeniya Rodina
Monday, August 27 7:00 p.m. on ESPN2 (Primetime at the U.S. Open)
Featured matches at Arthur Ashe Stadium
· Opening Ceremony
· #17 Serena Williams vs. Magda Linette
· #1 Rafael Nadal vs. David Ferrer
Featured matches at Louis Armstrong Stadium
· Victoria Azarenka vs. Viktoria Kuzmova
· #3 Juan Martin del Potro vs. American Donald Young, who made the draw via qualifying
Tuesday, August 28 noon-7:00 p.m. on ESPN
Featured matches
· #6 Novak Djokovic, who counts two US Open trophies and last month’s Wimbledon among his 13 Major titles vs. Marton Fucsovics
· #2 Caroline Wozniacki vs. 2011 winner Samantha Stosur
· 2016 winner Angelique Kerber, the #4 seed fresh off a Wimbledon title, vs Margarita Gasparyan
· #4 Sascha Zverev vs. Peter Polansky
Tuesday, August 28 beginning at 11 a.m. on ESPN+
Featured matches
· Two matchups of Americans – Taylor Townsend vs. 16-year old Amanda Anisimova and Christina McHale vs. Francesca DiLorenzo
· #5 Petra Kvitova vs. Yanina Wickmayer
· American #24 CoCo Vandeweghe, a semifinalist a year ago, vs. Kirsten Flipkens
· American Daniela Collins vs. #26 Aryna Sabalenka
· American Michael Mmoh vs. #14 Fabio Fognini
· #21 Kei Nishikori, a finalist in New York in 2014, vs. Maxmillian Marterer
Tuesday, August 28 7:00 p.m. on ESPN (Primetime at the U.S. Open)
Featured matches at Arthur Ashe Stadium
· Five-time US Open champion #2 Roger Federer, owner of 20 Major titles, plays Yoshihito Nishioka
· American #14 Madison Keys against Pauline Parmentier.
Featured matches at Louis Armstrong Stadium
· #30 Nick Kyrgios vs. Radu Albot
· 2006 champion Maria Sharapova vs. Patti Schynder, who at 39 made the draw via qualifying.
Second Round Play
Wednesday, August 29 noon-7:00 p.m. on ESPN
Featured matches
· Defending champion #3 Sloane Stephens vs. Anhelina Kalinina
· Three-time Major winner Andy Murray vs. #31 Fernando Verdasco
· Two-time champion #16 Venus Williams vs. Camila Giorgi
· 2009 champion #3 Juan Martin del Potro vs. American Denis Kudla
· 2016 champion Stan Wawrinka vs. Ugo Humbert
· Americans #11 John Isner and Sofia Kenin, Vania King, Claire Liu and Taylor Townsend
Wednesday, August 29 beginning at 11 a.m. on ESPN+
Featured matches
· Two-time Major champion Victoria Azarenka vs. #25 Daria Gavrilova
· #9 Dominic Thiem vs. American Steve Johnson
· Last year’s finalist (also at the recent Wimbledon) #5 Kevin Anderson vs. Jeremy Chardy
· Summer sensation #15 Stefanos Tsitsipas vs. Daniil Medvedev
· #25 Milos Raonic vs. Giles Simon
· #8 Karolina Pliskova vs. Ana Bogdan
· #28 Denis Shapovalov vs. Andreas Seppi
· Americans Todd Fritz, Vania King, Claire Liu and Taylor Townsend
Wednesday, August 29 7:00 p.m. on ESPN (Primetime at the U.S. Open)
Featured matches at Arthur Ashe Stadium
· #17 Serena Williams plays Carina Witthoft
· Top-seeded Rafael Nadal meets Vasek Pospisil
Featured matches at Louis Armstrong Stadium
· American #18 Jack Sock vs. Nikoloz Basilashvili
· Two-time Major winner #12 Garbine Muguruza vs. Karolina Muchova
Thursday, August 30 noon-7:00 p.m. on ESPN
Featured matches
· 20-time Major winner #2 Roger Federer vs. Benoit Paire
· #14 Madison Keys, the finalist a year ago, vs. fellow American Bernada Pera
· #4 Sascha Zverev vs. Nicolas Mahut
· #4 Angelique Kerber, the 2016 winner, vs. Johanna Larsson
· #5 Petra Kvitova, a two-time champion of Wimbledon, vs. Yafan Wang
· #7 Marin Cilic, the 2014 champion, vs. Hubert Hurkacz (not before 5 p.m.)
Thursday, August 30 beginning at 11 a.m. on ESPN+
Featured matches
· #30 Nick Kyrgios vs. Pierre-Hugues Herbert
· #20 Naomi Osaka, the 20-year old who won Indian Wells this spring, vs. Julia Klushko
· Canadian Genie Bouchard, the Wimbledon finalist four years ago, vs. Marketa Vondrousova
· #10 David Goffin vs. Robin Haase
· Americans Frances Tiafoe, Taylor Townsend (vs. #10 Jelena Ostapenko, the 2017 French Open winner) and the doubles team of Mike Bryan and Jack Sock
Thursday, August 30 7:00 p.m. on ESPN2 (Primetime at the U.S. Open)
Featured matches at Arthur Ashe Stadium
· 13-time Major champion #6 Novak Djokovic squaring off with American Tennys Sandgren, the surprise Australian Open quarterfinalist
· Five-time Major champion Maria Sharapova plays Sorana Cirstea
Featured matches at Louis Armstrong Stadium
· Gael Monfils takes on #21 Kei Nishikori
· #2 Caroline Wozniacki vs. Lesia Tsurenko
Third Round Play
Friday, August 31 noon-6:00 p.m. on ESPN; 6:00-7:00 p.m. on ESPN2
Featured matches
· 17-time Major champion #1 Rafael Nadal vs. #27 Karen Khachanov
· Defending champion #3 Sloane Stephens vs. two-time Australian Open winner Victoria Azarenka, who has twice reached the US Open final.
· Last year’s finalist (also at the recent Wimbledon) #5 Kevin Anderson vs. #28 Denis Shapovalov
· #15 Elise Mertens vs. #23 Barbora Strycova
· #7 Elina Svitolina vs. Qiang Wang
· #20 Borna Coric vs. Daniil Mevedev
Friday, August 31 beginning at 11 a.m. on ESPN+
Featured matches
· #11 John Isner vs. Dusan Lajovic
· #9 Dominic Thiem vs. American Todd Fritz
· #18 Ashleigh Barty vs. Karolina Muchova who ousted Garbine Muguruza
· #19 Anastasija Sevastova vs. Ekaterina Makarova
Friday, August 31 7:00 p.m. on ESPN2 (Primetime at the U.S. Open)
Featured matches at Arthur Ashe Stadium
· 30th meeting of legendary sisters Venus and Serena Williams on ESPN at 7 p.m. ET. Serena, 36 and a 23-time Major champion, is the #17 seed and leads the series 17-12 (10-9 on hard courts, 3-2 in the US Open). Venus, 38 and the #16 seed, has won five Majors, including twice in New York. She won their most recent meeting, in March in Indian Wells, Calif. This is the earliest they have met in a Major since their very first professional meeting, the Round of 64 at the 1998 Australian Open.
· #3 Juan Martin del Potro will play #31 Fernando Verdasco (ESPN2)
Featured matches at Louis Armstrong Stadium
· #25 Milos Raonic vs. 2016 champion Stan Wawrinka (ESPN)
· #8 Karolina Pliskova vs. American Sofia Kenin (ESPN2)
Saturday, September 1 11:00 a.m.-7:00 p.m. on ESPN
Featured matches
· American #14 Madison Keys, last year’s finalist, faces Aleksandra Krunic. The two have split their two meetings, including Krunic ousting Keys from the US Open four years ago. (starts at noon)
· 20-time Major champion #2 Roger Federer will meet #30 Nick Kyrgios. Federer has won two of their three matches, but eight of the nine sets have gone to a tie break. (follows Keys-Krunic)
· #13 Kiki Bertens vs. Marketa Vondrousova (starts at 11 a.m.)
· 2016 champ #4 Angelique Kerber vs. #29 Dominika Cibulkova (after Bertens-Vondrousova)
· An inter-generational battle of Germans as 21-year old #4 Alexander Zverev plays Philipp Kohlscreiber, 34 (after Kerber-Cibulkova)
· 2014 finalist #21 Kei Nishikori vs. #13 Diego Schwartzman (not before 5 p.m.)
Saturday, September 1 beginning at 11 a.m. on ESPN+
Featured matches
· American doubles team of Mike Bryan and Jack Sock duels with American Mackenzie McDonald who partners with Yoshihito Nishioka.
· #17 Lucas Pouille vs. Joao Sousa
· #6 Caroline Garcia vs. #30 Carla Suarez Navarro
· #10 David Goffin vs. Jan-Lennard Struff
Saturday, September 1 7:00 p.m. on ESPN2 (Primetime at the U.S. Open)
Featured matches at Arthur Ashe Stadium
· #22 Maria Sharapova, a five-time Major winner including a career Grand Slam, facing a tough test against #10 Jelena Ostapenko
· #6 Novak Djokovic plays #26 Richard Gasquet
Featured matches at Louis Armstrong Stadium
· #5 Petra Kvitova, twice winner at Wimbledon, vs. #26 Aryna Sabalenka, 20 years old and coming off a tremendous summer
· #7 Marin Cilic, the 2014 champion in New York, vs. 19-year old Alex De Minaur of Australia
Round of 16
Sunday, September 2 11:00 a.m.-7:00 p.m. on ESPN
Arthur Ashe Stadium
· 17-time Major champion #1 Rafael Nadal vs. Nikoloz Basilashvili
· #17 Serena Williams vs. Kaia Kanepi
Louis Armstrong Stadium
· Last year’s finalist (also at the recent Wimbledon) #5 Kevin Anderson vs. #9 Dominic Thiem
· #8 Karolina Pliskova vs. #18 Ashleigh Barty
· #11 John Isner vs. #25 Milos Raonic
Sunday, September 2 7:00 p.m. on ESPN2 (Primetime at the U.S. Open)
Featured matches at Arthur Ashe Stadium
· Defending champion #3 Sloane Stephens vs. #15 Elise Mertens
· #3 Juan Martin del Potro will play #20 Borna Coric
Monday, September 3 11:00 a.m.-7:00 p.m. on ESPN2
Monday, September 3 7:00 p.m. on ESPN2 (Primetime at the U.S. Open)
Quarterfinals
Live telecasts
Tuesday, September 4 noon-7:00 p.m. on ESPN
Tuesday, September 4 7:00 p.m. on ESPN (Primetime at the U.S. Open)
Wednesday, September 5 noon-7:00 p.m. on ESPN
Wednesday, September 5 7:00 p.m. on ESPN (Primetime at the U.S. Open)
Women’s Semifinals
Thursday, September 6 7:00 p.m. on ESPN and ESPN Deportes
Men’s Doubles Championship
Friday, September 7 noon on ESPN2
Men’s Semifinals
Friday, September 7 4:00 p.m. on ESPN and ESPN Deportes
Mixed Doubles Championship
Saturday, September 8 noon on ESPN3
Women’s Championship
Saturday, September 8 4:00 p.m. on ESPN and ESPN Deportes
Women’s Doubles Championship
Sunday, September 9 1:00 p.m. on ESPN2
Men’s Championship on Sunday, September 9, 2018
Preview: 3:00 p.m. on ESPN
Match: 4:00 p.m. on ESPN and ESPN Deportes
Encore: 11:00 p.m. on ESPN2
