​The U.S. Open tennis tournament is delayed today. Here’s why the delay happened and when pay may start again. GettyRain halted third-round qualifying at the US Open Thursday afternoon, stopping several matches in progress and threatening to compress an already tight schedule two days before the main draw opens.Play stopped across the outer courts at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center around 1 p.m. ET, with the tournament’s live scoring system marking a wave of contests “Suspended.” Qinwen Zheng, the No. 14 seed and a former Grand Slam finalist, was midway through her match against Elena Pridankina on Stadium 17 when the skies opened over Flushing Meadows.“Rain has already halted the final round of U..S Open qualifying,” wrote The Tennis Talk shortly after 2 p.m. ET. “With more intermittent showers forecast from Sunday night through Wednesday evening — especially heavy rain on Monday—the U.S. Open 2026 could face a hectic opening round. Scheduling chaos may be inevitable.”Read More From HeavyFrench Open Champion Alexander Zverev Takes Apparent Shot at Alcaraz, SinnerForecast Offers Little Relief Before Main DrawShowers and thunderstorms carrying a 60% chance of rain were forecast for Thursday afternoon across Queens, with some storms expected to turn severe, according to the National Weather Service’s Thursday afternoon outlook. A flood watch remained active for Queens and the Bronx into the evening, with the agency warning of localized downpours capable of dumping up to three-quarters of an inch of rain in a short span.Rain chances were expected to persist into the night before easing somewhat Friday, though a lingering 30% chance of storms still hovered over the region, the National Weather Service noted. Organizers had made no announcement on resumption as of early afternoon, typically opting to wait until courts dry sufficiently for safe play to continue.Whatever qualifying matches don’t finish Thursday will need to wrap up before Sunday, when the US Open main draw begins and determines the final 16 men’s and 16 women’s spots in the 128-player fields. That leaves a narrow window for players like Zheng, Fearnley and Montgomery to complete their bids without the benefit of a full night’s rest between matches.Read More From HeavySerena Williams Blasted for ‘Arrogant’ Post-Match Actions After Wimbledon LossQinwen Zheng and Others Left Waiting on CourtJacob Fearnley’s third-round bid against Jurij Rodionov stalled on Court 5, and Coleman Wong’s match with Dusan Lajovic froze on Court 7, both according to Tennis Temple’s live order of play. Toby Samuel and Christian Garin were locked in a similarly unfinished battle on Court 9, each having split just a single game before the rain arrived.Vilius Gaubas and Harry Wendelken got no further than a game apiece on Court 6. Daniel Rincon and Tomas Barrios Vera were pulled off Court 10 in an identical deadlock, while Aziz Dougaz and Andrea Guerrieri