US Open (tennis)

The US Open Tennis Championships is a major professional tennis tournament held annually in Queens, New York City.

It serves as the fourth and final Grand Slam event of the calendar year. The other three Grand Slams are the Australian Open, the French Open, and Wimbledon. This tournament is organized by the United States Tennis Association (USTA). It is a vital event for the sport's development in the United States. Revenue from sponsorships, television contracts, and ticket sales helps fund tennis programs across the country.

Matches are played on acrylic hardcourts at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center. This facility is located in Flushing Meadows–Corona Park. The tournament schedule spans two weeks, beginning on the Sunday before the last Monday of August. All participating players must be at least fourteen years old. The competition includes five primary championships: men's singles, women's singles, men's doubles, women's doubles, and mixed doubles. Additionally, the event hosts competitions for senior, junior, and wheelchair players. The tournament also includes a specific division for quad players.

Rules regarding match duration and scoring have evolved significantly over time. From 1971 to 2021, the tournament used standard tiebreakers in every singles set. A tiebreaker is a scoring method used when a set reaches a 6–6 tie. In these matches, the first player to reach seven points with a two-point lead wins the set. In 2022, the Grand Slam tournaments standardized a new rule for the final set. If a match reaches a 6–6 score in the deciding set, players compete in an extended tiebreaker. This extended version requires a player to reach ten points while still winning by at least two points. This change was designed to manage player fatigue and match length.

The tournament has a deep history dating back to August 1881. Originally known as the U.S. National Championships, it began at the Newport Casino in Rhode Island. In those early years, the matches were played on grass courts. Richard Sears won the first men's singles title, marking the start of seven consecutive wins for him. The tournament structure was also different back then. From 1884 to 1911, a challenge system was used. This meant the defending champion automatically qualified for the following year's final. They would play against the winner of the all-comers tournament.

Women's competition grew alongside the men's events during the late 19th century. The first U.S. Women's National Singles Championship took place in 1887 at the Philadelphia Cricket Club. A 17-year-old named Ellen Hansell won that inaugural title.

The tournament eventually moved to New York City in 1915. A group of players led by Karl Behr advocated for this move to Queens. They believed hosting the event in New York would benefit the sport's growth. The relocation was decided by a close vote of 128 to 119 at a USNLTA meeting. For many years, the tournament was held at the West Side Tennis Club in Forest Hills.

The year 1968 marked the beginning of the Open Era. This was a major turning point because it allowed professional players to compete. Previously, the championships were limited to amateur players only. In the first Open Era tournament in 1968, 96 men and 63 women entered the competition. The total prize money for that year was $100,000. By 1973, the US Open became a leader in equality by awarding equal prize money to men and women. That year, champions John Newcombe and Margaret Court each received $25,000. The tournament also experimented with different surfaces, moving from grass to clay in 1975 before switching to hardcourts in 1978.

Modern technology now plays a large role in the competition. In 2018, the US Open introduced a shot clock to increase the pace of play. This clock is visible to players, fans, and the chair umpire. It limits the time allowed between points. In 2023, the tournament became the first Grand Slam to implement a Video Review system. This allows players to challenge specific judgments, such as whether a ball has bounced twice. The tournament is also notable for its resilience. It is the only Grand Slam that has never been cancelled due to World War I, World War II, or the COVID-19 pandemic.