2026 US Open: USD 108,000,000 in Total Prize Money, Alcaraz Returns…Main Draw Begins August 30
As of 5:1 p.m. Korea time on 2026-08-21, this year's US Open tennis tournament runs from the start of Fan Week on August 23 through September 13. However, the men's and women's singles main draws, which most people associate with the tournament's opening, begin August 30. Total player compensation has increased to USD 108,000,000 this year, and defending champion Carlos Alcaraz, who has been sidelined from official competition for more than four months with a wrist injury, has confirmed his participation.
Why Does the US Open Start August 23 but the Singles Main Draw Begin August 30?
The full 2026 US Open schedule runs from August 23 through September 13, local time. However, Fan Week and qualifying-related events take place first, beginning August 23, while the 1 round of the men's and women's singles main draws begins August 30.
The US Open Qualifying Wildcard Challenge is scheduled for August 23, the first day of this year's event. Men's and women's singles qualifying begins August 24, while the mixed doubles schedule has also been placed ahead of the main singles competition.
Therefore, when looking up the 'US Open opening date,' it is important to distinguish which part of the tournament you want to watch. August 23 marks the beginning of the overall tournament events, while August 30 marks the start of the men's and women's singles main draws featuring the world's top players.
The key dates and times are as follows, based on New York local time.
| Event | New York Local Schedule | Converted Korea Time |
|---|---|---|
| Fan Week begins | Matches begin at 10 a.m. on August 23 | 11 p.m. on August 23 |
| Men's and women's singles qualifying begins | 11 a.m. on August 24 | 0 on August 25 |
| Mixed doubles 1 and 2 rounds | 10 a.m. on August 25 | 11 p.m. on August 25 |
| Mixed doubles semifinals and final | 7 p.m. on August 26 | 8 a.m. on August 27 |
| 1 round of men's and women's singles main draws | 11 a.m. on August 30 | 0 on August 31 |
| Women's singles final | 4 p.m. on September 12 | 5 a.m. on September 13 |
| Men's singles final | 2 p.m. on September 13 | 3 a.m. on September 14 |
The Korea times are the author's calculations, adding 13 hours to account for New York's observance of daylight saving time during the tournament. Actual start times for individual matches may vary depending on match progress and scheduling, and the tournament's official schedule also states that changes are possible.
USD 108,000,000 in US Open Prize Money This Year: How Much Will the Champions Receive?
One of the most notable changes at the 2026 US Open is the amount paid to players. The tournament organizers have announced total player compensation of USD 108,000,000, the largest amount in professional tennis history.
The men's and women's singles champions will each receive USD 5,500,000. That represents an increase of 10% over the champions' prize money in 2025.
Even players eliminated in the 1 round of the main draw will receive USD 140,000. This is an increase of 27% over last year, highlighting that payouts have risen not only for top-ranked players but also for those who qualify for the main draw.
The announcement covers more than prize money. The United States Tennis Association also announced that it will launch a USD 2,000,000 Player Support Program in 2026. The program is designed to distribute support equally between male and female players and supplement existing player support and pension programs.
The announcement also included a change under which the four Grand Slam tournaments agreed to establish a Player Council to communicate directly with players, following recent demands from players for a greater share of Grand Slam revenue and more involvement in decision-making.
However, a substantial increase in prize money does not mean that a comprehensive agreement has been reached on the long-term revenue-sharing system players have been seeking. Player representatives described the measures as progress while maintaining that discussions on a fixed revenue-sharing formula would continue.
Alcaraz Is Returning to the US Open
Carlos Alcaraz has confirmed his return at the August 20 US Open. After more than four months without an official tour match because of a wrist problem, he has chosen the US Open as the venue for his comeback.
Alcaraz has not competed since the Barcelona Open in April. He missed the French Open and Wimbledon, as well as the North American hard-court events in Toronto and Cincinnati.
Although a return in Cincinnati had initially been considered, he decided to allow more time for his wrist to recover. Recently, he has increased his training intensity and prepared for his comeback through on-court practice sessions with Holger Rune.
His participation is attracting particular attention because Alcaraz is the defending US Open men's singles champion. He is preparing to defend the title he won in New York in 2025 after a lengthy absence from competitive play.
New York is also where Alcaraz won his first major title. He claimed his first Grand Slam singles championship at the US Open in 2022 and subsequently became the youngest men's world No. 1 in history at the time.
However, it is important to distinguish between 'confirmed participation' and 'already demonstrated a return to normal competitive form.' Because he has not played an official match for more than four months, his actual match condition will need to be assessed at the US Open.
Where Can Viewers in South Korea Watch the US Open?
Viewers in South Korea can first check TVING and tvN SPORTS. CJ ENM's lineup of major content for the second half of 2026, released August, lists TVING and tvN SPORTS as the channels and platforms for the '2026 US Open.'
There is one important distinction to make regarding the dates.
The official US Open tournament schedule runs from August 23 through September 13, with the singles main draws beginning August 30. In contrast, CJ ENM's second-half content lineup lists the US Open-related period as August 30–September 17.
Therefore, interpreting September 17 in CJ ENM's materials as the actual date of the US Open men's singles final would be incorrect. The final match of the official tournament is scheduled to be the men's singles final on September 13, local time.
For the most accurate information about individual match broadcasts and streaming availability, viewers should check the daily schedules of TVING and tvN SPORTS again as the actual match dates approach.
Why US Open Matches Often Fall on the Following Day in Korea
Because of the time difference between South Korea and New York, US Open night matches are often watched the following morning in Korea. In late August and early September, New York observes daylight saving time and is 13 hours behind South Korea.
For example, a match beginning at 11 a.m. in New York on August 30 will start at 0 on August 31 in Korea. A night session beginning at 7 p.m. local time will start at 8 a.m. the following day in Korea.
The same applies to the finals. Under the current official schedule, the women's singles final is set for 4 p.m. New York time on September 12, which corresponds to 5 a.m. on September 13 in Korea. The men's singles final is scheduled for 2 p.m. New York time on September 13, making the Korean viewing time 3 a.m. on September 14.
Korean viewers could easily get the date wrong if they remember only the overseas listing of the 'September 13 men's final.' It is better to check whether the local match date differs from the viewing date in Korea.
As of August 21, the Schedule and Player Participation Status Matter More Than the Draw
At this point, there is still some time before the singles main draws begin. The key details that can currently be confirmed are that the overall tournament begins August 23, the men's and women's singles main draws start August 30, and the men's singles final takes place September 13, local time.
This year has also brought confirmation of record-breaking amounts: USD 108,000,000 in total player compensation, USD 5,500,000 for each singles champion, and USD 140,000 for players competing in the 1 round of the main draw.
In men's singles, one of the biggest developments ahead of the tournament is Alcaraz's return from a lengthy injury absence to defend his title.
Once the draw is finalized, viewers can check the match dates, courts, and local start times for the players they want to follow. For viewers in South Korea in particular, it is important not to schedule their viewing based solely on New York dates, since local night matches often fall on the following morning in Korea.
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