Cincinnati Open fans prove their tennis fandom in funny video
We walked the pathways of the Cincinnati Open tennis tournament to ask fans to prove their tennis fandom for us.
Tennis’ final Grand Slam of the year is upon us, and the world’s best will head to New York for the U.S. Open to try to cement their name in history.
On the men’s side, Jannik Sinner has a firm grip on the No. 1 ranking, but he faces the usual test – including from defending champion Carlos Alcaraz, who has missed the last two Grand Slams with a wrist injury.
The year’s other Grand Slam winner, Alexander Zverev, who triumphed at Wimbledon, hasn’t reached a semifinal at Flushing Meadows since 2021. And there is always Novak Djokovic, even though he flamed out early in Cincinnati, still a threat to win his 25th Grand Slam title, evidenced by his semifinal run at this tournament last year.
The competitors in the women’s draw are all chasing Aryna Sabalenka, the world’s top-ranked player who has won this event each of the past two years but has yet to win a major this year. Three different women have won the year’s three majors so far – Elena Rybakina (Australian Open), Mirra Andreeva (French Open) and Linda Nosková (Wimbledon). Coco Gauff and Iga Świątek will be in the mix to add another U.S. Open crown to their trophy case.
2026 US Open schedule
- Qualifying Rounds: Aug. 18–21
- Mixed Doubles: Aug. 24-26
- Main Draw (singles): starts Aug. 30
- Men’s & Women’s Singles Quarterfinals: Sept. 8, 9
- Women’s Singles Semifinals: Sept. 10
- Men’s Singles Semifinals: Sept. 11
- Women’s Singles Final: Sept. 12
- Men’s Singles Final: September 13
2026 US Open TV schedule
ESPN is set to have live coverage on Day 1 of the singles tournament on Aug. 30, and additional coverage on ABC, ESPN2, and the ESPN app.
ESPN will broadcast the U.S. Open Qualifying and Mixed Doubles Championship starting Aug. 24.
The men’s final on Sept. 13 will be televised live on ABC for the third consecutive year.
2026 US Open prize money
Women’s/Men’s singles
The U.S. Open purse will increase to $108 million this year, with each singles champion receiving $5.5 million, up from $5 million last year.
The first-round payout will be increased to $140,000, and Men’s and Women’s Qualifying first-round payout will increase to $32,000, a 16% bump.
The Men’s, Women’s, and Mixed Doubles Champions will win $1 million per team.
Men’s and Women’s Main Draw Singles
- Winner – $5.5 million
- Runner-up – $2.8 million
- Semifinalists – $1.45 million
- Quarterfinalists – $780,000
- Round of 16 – $480,000
- Third Round – $290,000
- Second Round – $190,000
- First Round – $140,000