[takeaways] • The 2026 US Open runs August 23 – September 13 at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center, Flushing Meadows, Queens, New York.
• Fan Week (August 23–29) includes free grounds access for qualifying matches, plus ticketed events including an Arthur Ashe Stadium exhibition and a The Lumineers opening concert.
• Carlos Alcaraz and Aryna Sabalenka arrive as defending champions — Alcaraz won his second US Open in 2025, defeating Sinner; Sabalenka successfully defended with a win over Anisimova.
• A SIMOVO USA eSIM connects you to AT&T, Verizon, and T-Mobile with up to 5G speeds — active the moment you land in New York.
• The 7 train from Grand Central Terminal to Mets-Willets Point Station is the most reliable and recommended route to Flushing Meadows on match days. [/takeaways]
The US Open is the final Grand Slam of every tennis year — and the 2026 edition at Flushing Meadows promises another extraordinary fortnight of world-class tennis under the New York lights. Carlos Alcaraz and Aryna Sabalenka arrive as defending champions, with the rest of the field chasing them hard. If you're planning to travel to New York for the tournament, here's everything you need to know — and why a SIMOVO USA eSIM belongs in your bag before you board.
What is the US Open?
The US Open is the fourth and final Grand Slam tournament of the tennis calendar, held annually in late August and September at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center in Flushing Meadows, Queens. Like the Australian Open, French Open, and Wimbledon, it forms one quarter of tennis's Grand Slam — winning all four in a calendar year is the sport's most coveted achievement.
The US Open is played on acrylic hard courts, making it a distinct challenge compared to Wimbledon's grass and the French Open's clay. It's the longest-running of the four Grand Slams and is famous for its electric night session atmosphere, passionate New York crowds, and the high-stakes drama of the final Grand Slam of the year.
The 2026 US Open — dates and schedule
The 2026 US Open runs from Sunday August 23 through Sunday September 13 at Flushing Meadows. Fan Week (August 23–29) offers free grounds access for qualifying matches, practice sessions with the world's top players, and a selection of paid special events. The main draw begins August 30, with the women's and men's singles finals in the second week of September.
[tip title="Fan Week is free — and worth arriving early for"]Fan Week gives you free access to the grounds from August 23, with the chance to watch qualifying matches and see the world's best players in open practice sessions. Ticketed Fan Week events include an exhibition at Arthur Ashe Stadium and the tournament's opening concert — The Lumineers headline in 2026. Arriving before the main draw begins gives you a genuinely different and often more intimate experience of the US Open.[/tip] [tip title="The 7 train is the best way to get to Flushing Meadows on match days"]The 7 subway line runs directly from Grand Central Terminal to Mets-Willets Point Station, adjacent to the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center. It's the most reliable, most affordable, and often the fastest option for match days — and avoids the traffic congestion around Flushing Meadows during peak sessions. Check the MTA website for any service changes before you travel.[/tip]
What happened at the 2025 US Open?
Carlos Alcaraz won his second US Open men's singles title in 2025, defeating defending champion Jannik Sinner 6-2, 3-6, 6-1, 6-4 in the final — his sixth Grand Slam overall. Alcaraz also defeated Novak Djokovic in the semi-finals in what was described as a dominant performance.
In the women's draw, Aryna Sabalenka successfully defended her title, defeating Amanda Anisimova 6-3, 7-6 in the final for back-to-back US Open crowns. The 2025 edition was the first to expand to 15 competition days, with the main draw beginning on a Sunday for the first time in the Open Era.
Who to watch at the 2026 US Open
Carlos Alcaraz arrives as men's defending champion and one of the tournament favourites. Jannik Sinner — runner-up in 2025 and currently one of the world's top-ranked players — will be highly motivated to go one better. Novak Djokovic, who reached the 2025 semi-finals at 38 years of age, has shown no signs of withdrawing from the chase for one final Grand Slam victory.
Aryna Sabalenka defends the women's title having won two consecutive US Opens. Iga Świątek, Coco Gauff, Elena Rybakina, and Amanda Anisimova — who reached the 2025 final — are all strong contenders in a highly competitive women's draw.
Why you need a SIMOVO USA eSIM for the US Open
New York is one of the world's great cities, and the US Open fortnight makes it busier than ever. You'll need reliable mobile data to navigate the subway, find the best food around Flushing Meadows, check live scores between sessions, share moments on social media, and stay in touch with people back home. Relying on your home carrier's international roaming in the US can result in significant unexpected charges. A SIMOVO USA eSIM solves that before you board.
[warning]Always disable data roaming on your home SIM before landing in the US. Even if you're only using your SIMOVO eSIM for data, your home SIM can connect to US networks in the background — triggering roaming charges from your home carrier on top of your SIMOVO plan. Switch off data roaming on your primary SIM before you fly.[/warning] [warning]Public WiFi at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center, hotels, and tourist areas in New York carries real security risks. Unsecured networks can expose your personal data, passwords, and financial details to interception. A SIMOVO USA eSIM gives you your own private, encrypted connection throughout the tournament — no dependence on venue WiFi.[/warning] [tip title="SIMOVO connects you to AT&T, Verizon, and T-Mobile — up to 5G speeds"]SIMOVO USA eSIMs automatically connect to the strongest available US network in your location — giving you access to all three major national networks with up to 5G speeds. Whether you're at Arthur Ashe Stadium, exploring Manhattan, or travelling further across the US after the tournament, the connection follows you.[/tip]
SIMOVO USA eSIM plans
| Data | Duration | Price | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1GB | 7 days | £3 | Short trips — maps, messages and light browsing |
| 3GB | 15 days | £5 | Light use — occasional maps and WhatsApp |
| 5GB | 30 days | £6 | Casual use — social media and navigation daily |
| 10GB | 30 days | £9 | Most travellers — social media, maps, video calls and browsing |
| 15GB | 30 days | £12 | Heavy use — streaming, hotspot and uploading content |
| 20GB | 30 days | £16 | Heavy users — streaming, hotspot and uploading content ★ Most Popular |
| 20GB | 90 days | £18 | Extended US trip — 3 months of serious data coverage ★ Best Value/GB |
| 50GB | 30 days | £35 | Digital nomad — meetings, uploads and hotspotting |
| 50GB | 180 days | £44 | Long stays — 6 months of serious data coverage |
[esim flag="🇺🇸" label="United States" data="20GB · 30 days" price="£16" href="/products/united-states" benefits="AT&T, Verizon and T-Mobile · Up to 5G · Instant QR setup · No roaming charges"]Stay connected at the US Open — and across New York[/esim] [faq] [q]When is the 2026 US Open?[/q] [a]The 2026 US Open runs August 23 – September 13 at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center, Flushing Meadows, Queens, New York. Fan Week (August 23–29) includes free grounds access for qualifying matches and practice sessions, plus ticketed events including an Arthur Ashe Stadium exhibition and opening concert. The main draw begins August 30, with finals in the second week of September.[/a] [q]Who are the defending US Open champions for 2026?[/q] [a]Carlos Alcaraz won the 2025 men's US Open title, defeating Jannik Sinner 6-2, 3-6, 6-1, 6-4 in the final for his second US Open crown and sixth Grand Slam overall. Aryna Sabalenka won the women's title for the second consecutive year, defeating Amanda Anisimova 6-3, 7-6. Both arrive at Flushing Meadows in 2026 as defending champions.[/a] [q]What is Fan Week at the US Open?[/q] [a]Fan Week runs August 23–29 at Flushing Meadows, offering free grounds access to qualifying matches and open practice sessions. Paid ticketed events during Fan Week include an exhibition at Arthur Ashe Stadium and the opening concert — The Lumineers headline in 2026. Fan Week is one of the most affordable and atmospheric ways to experience the US Open, with a more relaxed atmosphere than the main draw rounds.[/a] [q]What is the best way to get to Flushing Meadows for the US Open?[/q] [a]The 7 subway line from Grand Central Terminal to Mets-Willets Point Station is the most reliable and recommended route to the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center. It avoids the heavy traffic congestion around Flushing Meadows during peak sessions and is significantly cheaper than taxis or ride-share. Check the MTA website for any service updates before match days.[/a] [q]Do I need an eSIM for the US?[/q] [a]A SIMOVO USA eSIM is one of the most practical additions to any US Open trip. Plans start from £3 for 1GB over 7 days, with the most popular plan at £16 for 20GB over 30 days. All plans connect to AT&T, Verizon, and T-Mobile with up to 5G speeds — active from the moment you land in New York, with no roaming charges and no dependence on unsecured public WiFi throughout the tournament.[/a] [/faq] [esim flag="🇺🇸" label="United States" data="20GB · 30 days" price="£16" href="/products/united-states" benefits="AT&T, Verizon and T-Mobile · Up to 5G · Instant QR setup · No roaming charges"]Stay connected at the US Open — and across New York[/esim]
