US Open 2025: Rain halts outside court play, Fritz and Zverev headline Day 2
Synopsis
Rain brought Flushing Meadows to a partial standstill on Day 2, pushing outside-court first-round matches past 2:45 pm. While Fritz, Zverev, and Monfils — in what could be his last Grand Slam run — take centre stage on the covered courts, Madison Keys survived a scare from teen sensation Alina Korneeva to advance 7-5, 6-4.
Key Takeaways
Rain delayed outside court play at the US Open in New York until at least 2:45 pm local time (12:15 am IST Wednesday) on Tuesday, 2 September .
Louis Armstrong Stadium and Arthur Ashe Stadium continued play under their retractable roofs.
Fifth seed Flavio Cobolli opened his campaign against Francisco Comesana under the roof; Gael Monfils faces Adolfo Daniel Vallejo in what may be his final Grand Slam.
Top seed Alexander Zverev faces Lorenzo Sonego in the night session; Taylor Fritz takes on Darwin Blanch in the day session at Arthur Ashe.
Madison Keys (seeded 24) defeated Alina Korneeva 7-5, 6-4 in the women's singles first round.
Rain disrupted the opening of Tuesday's first-round play at the US Open in New York, with matches on outside courts at Flushing Meadows pushed back to no earlier than 2:45 pm local time (12:15 am IST Wednesday). Action continued uninterrupted on the covered show courts — Louis Armstrong Stadium and Arthur Ashe Stadium — where roofs shielded players from the inclement weather.
Show Courts Keep the Action Going
Fifth seed Flavio Cobolli opened his US Open campaign under the roof at Louis Armstrong Stadium, taking on Francisco Comesana in his first-round opener. Later on the same court, French veteran Gael Monfils is set to contest what is widely regarded as the final Grand Slam campaign of his career, facing Adolfo Daniel Vallejo.
At Arthur Ashe Stadium, 2024 finalist Taylor Fritz is the marquee attraction, squaring off against fellow American Darwin Blanch — a #NextGenATP prospect — in the second match of the day session. The night session features top seed Alexander Zverev against Lorenzo Sonego, a clash that will draw significant attention given Zverev's status as the tournament's highest-ranked contender.
Outside Court Matches on Hold
Several notable contests are among those awaiting the rain's clearance. Alex de Minaur versus Andrea Guerrieri, Lorenzo Musetti against Arthur Fery, and Rafael Jodar taking on Thanasi Kokkinakis are all scheduled for outside courts and remain weather-dependent. Organisers have not announced revised timings beyond the 2:45 pm cut-off.
Madison Keys Survives Teen Test
In completed women's singles action, Madison Keys — seeded 24th in this edition — came through a challenging opening-round encounter against teenage sensation Alina Korneeva, winning 7-5, 6-4. Korneeva had arrived at Flushing Meadows in strong form, having recently defeated Emma Navarro and Iva Jovic at the WTA 1000 Toronto, and she tested the 2017 US Open finalist in the opening set before Keys steadied herself.
'It's always funny. I think I'm still a teenager, so looking across the net and seeing a teenager doesn't make much sense to me,' said Keys after the match. 'It's always tough playing someone who is young and up and coming; they're going for all their shots.' The 2017 runner-up found the decisive shots at critical moments to close out the win.
What to Watch as the Day Unfolds
With the weather window uncertain, the outside-court schedule remains fluid. The Zverev-Sonego night session at Arthur Ashe is expected to proceed regardless, given the stadium's retractable roof. How quickly the rain clears will determine whether the full Tuesday card is completed or whether matches spill into Wednesday — a scenario that could create scheduling pressure deeper in the first round.
Point of View
But the scheduling story underneath is more interesting. Monfils playing what could be his Grand Slam farewell on a covered court — away from the outside-court atmosphere that often defines sentimental send-offs — is a quirk worth noting. Meanwhile, the Zverev-as-top-seed narrative at a Slam he has never won carries genuine weight: every smooth progression through the draw will intensify the conversation about whether 2025 is finally his year. Keys' win, though unremarkable on the scoreline, signals she is handling the pressure of a seeded run with composure — Korneeva is no easy opener given her recent WTA 1000 form.
NationPress
2 Sept 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Why was play delayed at the US Open on Tuesday?
Rain disrupted the start of Tuesday's schedule at Flushing Meadows, pushing first-round matches on outside courts to no earlier than 2:45 pm local time. Matches on the covered show courts — Louis Armstrong Stadium and Arthur Ashe Stadium — continued as normal.
Who is playing on Arthur Ashe Stadium on Day 2?
Taylor Fritz, the 2024 US Open finalist, faces fellow American Darwin Blanch in the day session. Top seed Alexander Zverev takes on Lorenzo Sonego in the night session, with the retractable roof ensuring play proceeds regardless of weather.
What is the significance of Gael Monfils playing at this US Open?
This edition is widely considered the final Grand Slam campaign of Monfils' career. The French veteran faces Adolfo Daniel Vallejo at Louis Armstrong Stadium on Tuesday.
How did Madison Keys get through her first-round match?
Keys defeated teen sensation Alina Korneeva 7-5, 6-4. Korneeva had tested the 2017 finalist in the opening set after strong recent form at the WTA 1000 Toronto, but Keys found the decisive shots at key moments to advance.
Which outside court matches are affected by the rain delay?
Among the matches awaiting the weather clearance are Alex de Minaur vs Andrea Guerrieri, Lorenzo Musetti vs Arthur Fery, and Rafael Jodar vs Thanasi Kokkinakis, all scheduled for outside courts at Flushing Meadows.
