Key Points
Record $108 million prize pool marks largest purse in tennis history.
Jessica Pegula beats Ruse 6-3 6-2 with world number one ranking possible.
Novak Djokovic loses to Mariano Navone in 4.5-hour upset battle.
Tournament runs August 30 to September 13 in expanded 15-day format.
The 2026 US Open tennis tournament began on August 30 at Flushing Meadows with a record purse of $108 million, the largest in tennis history. The event runs through September 13 in a 15-day format introduced last year. Jessica Pegula defeated Romania’s Elena-Gabriela Ruse 6-3 6-2 and could reach world number one if she wins the tournament and second-ranked Elena Rybakina loses before the semi-finals. In a major upset, Argentina’s Mariano Navone stunned 24-time Grand Slam winner Novak Djokovic 7-6(5) 5-7 4-6 6-2 6-1 in a gruelling 4.5-hour match.
Record prize money and expanded schedule
The USTA increased the total purse to $108 million, the largest ever in tennis, according to tournament organizers. The expansion reflects years of runaway ticket demand. USTA chief executive Craig Tiley said the record payout was aimed at giving players a fair share of tournament revenue. The tournament added an extra day to the schedule in 2025, stretching the event to 15 days and allowing first-round matches to be played over three days instead of two.
Pegula advances with ranking incentive
Jessica Pegula defeated Elena-Gabriela Ruse 6-3 6-2 in the opening match at Arthur Ashe Stadium. The 2024 finalist is the highest-ranked American woman and third in the world. Pegula said she felt nervous before the match but closed it out with an unreturnable forehand, hitting 26 winners to Ruse’s 14. She will have two days’ rest before the second round and will face the winner of a match between American wildcards Venus Williams and Sofia Kenin.
Djokovic’s shock loss to Navone
Argentina’s Mariano Navone stunned Novak Djokovic 7-6(5) 5-7 4-6 6-2 6-1 in a gruelling battle lasting more than 4.5 hours. Djokovic, seeking a fifth US Open title and a record 25th Grand Slam crown, struggled with physical problems in oppressive humidity. The loss ended the 39-year-old Serb’s bid for another major trophy. Other winners on day one included Daniil Medvedev, who defeated Hugo Gaston 6-4 6-2 6-4, and Elina Svitolina, who dispatched Solana Sierra 6-1 6-2 in 51 minutes.
Field uncertainty with top seeds affected
World number one Jannik Sinner is absent from the tournament, while defending champion Carlos Alcaraz is competing after a long injury layoff. Aryna Sabalenka, the two-time defending champion, arrives with concerns about her recent form after a dismal back half of the season. Elena Rybakina is on track to play despite earlier injury concerns. The compressed schedule and record prize money reflect the tournament’s growing commercial appeal and player demand for fairer revenue sharing.
Final Thoughts
The 2026 US Open combines record prize money with an expanded schedule that rewards player endurance. Pegula’s path to world number one and Djokovic’s shock exit signal an open field where experience and fitness will determine the champions.
FAQs
The tournament offers a record $108 million in total prize money, the largest purse in tennis history, according to USTA officials.
Yes, if Pegula wins the tournament and second-ranked Elena Rybakina loses before the semi-finals, Pegula would reach number one.
Djokovic struggled with physical problems and oppressive humidity during the 4.5-hour match, which Navone won 7-6(5) 5-7 4-6 6-2 6-1.
The tournament runs 15 days instead of the traditional two weeks, with first-round matches spread over three days to accommodate ticket demand.
Disclaimer:
The content shared by Meyka AI PTY LTD is solely for research and informational purposes. Meyka is not a financial advisory service, and the information provided should not be considered investment or trading advice.
About Author
Danny Kontos
Co FounderDanny Kontos has been a stock investor since 2007 and co-founded Meyka in 2023. He keeps a small, focused portfolio and only moves when the numbers are hard to argue with. He has waited years on a single position before. Before Meyka, he ran a web hosting company and a mortgage lending platform, so he knows what a well-run business actually looks like under the hood. This article did not come from a news cycle. It came from someone who has been watching this space for a long time.
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