NEW YORK - The U.S. Open will expand its main draw to 15 days, the United States Tennis Association (USTA) said on Wednesday, kicking off a day earlier than the usual Monday opener for the tournament's first weekend start in the Open Era.

The extra day puts the U.S. Open in line with the Australian Open, which switched its start from Monday to Sunday a year ago, and the French Open, which was the first tennis major to make the move when it added a 15th day in 2006.

U.S. Open will look a little different this year as the major tournament will begin on a Sunday for the first time in the Open Era, which began in 1968. The final major tournament on the year will start on Sunday,