The US Open will honor active-duty service members and military veterans on September 5 with its annual Lt. Joe Hunt Military Appreciation celebration at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center in New York.

The tribute will take place during the US Open’s third-round action, with Arthur Ashe Stadium scheduled to host men’s and women’s matches throughout the day and evening. The official tournament schedule lists the military appreciation celebration alongside the September 5 sessions.

The annual event has become a longstanding part of the US Open calendar, giving the tournament an opportunity to recognize members of the U.S. military and highlight the connection between tennis, service and community.

A US Open Tradition Honoring Service

The US Open says it has honored active-duty and veteran military service members through its Military Appreciation celebration for nearly 15 years.

The event is now named for Lt. Joe Hunt, a former U.S. National champion whose tennis career was interrupted by World War II service. The USTA renamed the annual Military Appreciation Day in his honor in 2019.

Hunt remains the only player in U.S. National Championships history to win the boys’ singles, junior singles, collegiate singles and men’s singles titles.

His biggest tennis achievement came in 1943, when he won the U.S. Nationals while on leave from the U.S. Navy. He later returned to military service and was killed in 1945 when his Navy fighter plane crashed into the Atlantic Ocean.

Who Was Lt. Joe Hunt?

Hunt was more than a tennis champion.

A Southern California native, he became one of the youngest American players to reach the country’s top 10 rankings and played Davis Cup tennis for the United States. He later attended the U.S. Naval Academy, where he competed in both tennis and football.

In 1943, Hunt captured the U.S. Nationals men’s singles championship while serving in the Navy. His victory came during a period when the United States was fighting in World War II.

Less than two years later, Hunt died while serving his country.

The tournament’s decision to attach his name to Military Appreciation Day created a direct connection between one of American tennis’s historic champions and the service members being recognized at the US Open today.

What Happens During Military Appreciation Day?

The celebration is more than a ceremonial acknowledgment during a tennis match.

In previous years, the US Open has invited veterans representing all five branches of the U.S. military to attend matches and participate in activities throughout the tournament grounds.

The 2025 celebration included veterans attending day and evening sessions, ceremonial coin tosses, a tennis clinic in Arthur Ashe Stadium and other on-site activities.

Military representatives and tennis players have also participated in ceremonies surrounding the event.

The 2025 program featured a presentation of colors, military musicians, West Point tennis players and other military-connected participants.

Tennis Takes Center Stage at Arthur Ashe Stadium

The military tribute comes during one of the most important stages of the US Open.

September 5 is scheduled as a third-round day, with an Arthur Ashe Stadium day session beginning at 11 a.m. and an evening session scheduled for 7 p.m.

That gives the celebration an unusually large audience inside one of the most recognizable venues in American tennis.

Rather than existing separately from the tournament, Military Appreciation Day is incorporated into the US Open experience, placing military recognition alongside some of the biggest matches of the summer tennis calendar.

Why the Celebration Is Named for Hunt

The choice of Hunt’s name carries particular significance because of the unusual combination of his accomplishments on the court and his military service.

The USTA says Hunt is the only U.S. Nationals or US Open champion to lose his life while serving his country.

His story also reflects an era when elite American athletes were serving in the military during World War II.

Hunt’s 1943 championship came while he was on leave from the Navy. His career was ultimately cut short when his fighter plane crashed in the Atlantic in February 1945.

A Tribute That Has Grown Over the Years

Military Appreciation Day began at the US Open in 2012 and has developed into an annual tradition.

The USTA has previously recognized veterans, wounded warriors, military families and military organizations as part of the celebration. The event has also included military officials and service members participating in ceremonies at Arthur Ashe Stadium.

The 2025 edition marked the 14th consecutive year of the tournament’s military recognition program.

The USTA also maintains programs designed to connect tennis with the military and veteran community beyond the US Open. Its current initiatives include efforts to expand access to tennis for service members, veterans and their families.

Why It Stands Out During the 2026 US Open

The 2026 US Open is packed with major tennis storylines, making match coverage one of the most competitive areas for sports publications.

The Lt. Joe Hunt Military Appreciation celebration offers a different angle.

It combines professional tennis with an American military tradition and the personal story of a champion whose life was shaped by both sports and service.

For readers who may not follow every match on the US Open schedule, the event provides a broader human-interest story about how one of America’s biggest sporting events recognizes the people who have served the country.

The September 5 Celebration

The 2026 Lt. Joe Hunt Military Appreciation celebration is scheduled for Saturday, September 5, during the US Open’s third-round competition.

Arthur Ashe Stadium will host matches during both the day and evening sessions, while the tournament’s military recognition activities will give service members and veterans a prominent place within the day’s events.

The event continues a tradition that has connected American tennis with military service for more than a decade.

For the US Open, it is another day of championship tennis. For the military and veteran community, it is an opportunity to be recognized on one of the biggest stages in American sports.