Monday, August 31, 2026 — Day 2 of the main draw. All times Eastern.
The biggest story of the day is a comeback. Carlos Alcaraz plays his first tour-level singles match since April, having missed both Roland-Garros and Wimbledon with a wrist injury. He has already been on court at Flushing Meadows this fortnight — reaching the mixed doubles quarter-finals partnering Serena Williams — but this is the real test.
Aryna Sabalenka begins her bid for a third straight title, and Naomi Osaka plays the night match.
Arthur Ashe Stadium
| Session | Match |
|---|---|
| Day from 11:30 a.m. |
[1] Aryna Sabalenka vs. Camila Osorio Roman Safiullin vs. [2] Carlos Alcaraz |
| Night from 7:00 p.m. |
[8] Ben Shelton vs. Tallon Griekspoor [13] Naomi Osaka vs. Anastasia Zakharova |
Louis Armstrong Stadium
| Session | Match |
|---|---|
| Day from 11:00 a.m. |
Stefanos Tsitsipas vs. [10] Arthur Fils Ashlyn Krueger vs. [10] Amanda Anisimova |
| Night from 7:00 p.m. |
[8] Iga Świątek vs. Xiyu Wang Martin Damm vs. [11] Frances Tiafoe |
Grandstand
| Session | Match |
|---|---|
| Day from 11:00 a.m. |
Sinja Kraus vs. [7] Karolína Muchová, followed by further first-round matches |
Dozens of further first-round matches run across the outside courts from 11 a.m. Order of play is released the evening before each day and can shift for weather or match length. Every session airs on ESPN, ESPN2 or ABC, with all 16 courts streaming on the ESPN App.
The Match to Watch
Alcaraz against Roman Safiullin is not a marquee pairing on paper, but it is the most consequential match on the grounds. The defending champion has not played a tour-level singles match since April, missing the French Open and Wimbledon entirely with a wrist injury.
His only competitive tennis here has come in mixed doubles alongside Serena Williams, a partnership that reached the quarter-finals during Fan Week. Whether the wrist holds up over five sets is the question the whole draw hinges on.
Also Worth Your Time
Sabalenka opens the defense. The world No. 1 has won this title twice in a row and faces Camila Osorio first up on Ashe.
Osaka under the lights. A two-time champion here, playing the night session against Anastasia Zakharova — historically the slot where she has done her best work.
Świątek’s night match. The 2022 champion takes the Armstrong evening session against Xiyu Wang.
Tsitsipas vs. Fils. The most competitive first-round men’s match on the schedule, pairing a former Grand Slam finalist with one of the tour’s fastest risers.
Anisimova returns. Last year’s women’s finalist begins against American Ashlyn Krueger on Armstrong.
Stan Wawrinka, who retires at the end of this season, is also in action — one of his final appearances at a tournament he won in 2016.
How to Watch
Every session airs on ESPN, ESPN2 or ABC in the United States, with Spanish commentary on ESPN Deportes. All 16 courts stream on the ESPN App for ESPN Unlimited subscribers, which is the only way to follow a specific outside-court match.
Full detail is in our US Open viewing guide, and the round-by-round calendar is on our 2026 US Open schedule.
The Bottom Line
Day 2 completes the first round’s bottom half. Carlos Alcaraz plays his first tour-level singles match in four months, Aryna Sabalenka starts her third straight title bid, and Naomi Osaka and Iga Świątek headline the night sessions. Play begins at 11 a.m. ET across the grounds, with the Ashe evening session from 7 p.m.