For two weeks late in August, the Billie Jean King National Tennis Center at Flushing Meadows is the focal point of the world’s top players. Qualifying matches began Monday and the main draw begins Sunday. With Wimbledon, the French Open and the Australian Open done and dusted, this year’s US Open starts on a Sunday and features a new format with more first-round matches spread out across three show courts and around the grounds. Here’s what to expect as the tournament kicks off, including a potential semifinal showdown between world No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka and No. 24 Novak Djokovic.

With Djokovic opening on Arthur Ashe Stadium, the night session on Sunday could be particularly interesting. The former champion could run into a host of American talent, including 2024 runner-up Taylor Fritz and rising qualifiers Alex Michelsen and Frances Tiafoe.

Defending men’s champion Novak Djokovic starts on Sunday in what could be his final Grand Slam as a man in the main draw. The 24-time major winner will play American teenager Learner Tien at 19:00 in the first match of the day on Arthur Ashe Stadium.

On the women’s side, second seed Iga Swiatek will have a tough path to a sixth consecutive US Open semifinal. The second-seeded Czech, ranked No. 2 in the world, opens against Reilly Opelka and may face a potential quarterfinals showdown with 2025 Wimbledon runner-up and No. 3 Naomi Osaka. American contenders Jessica Pegula, Madison Keys and Amanda Anisimova also feature in the bottom half of the draw.