( CNN ) -- Rain has played havoc with the U.S. Open in New York in recent years but two new retractable roofs mean the weather-related woes will soon be a thing of the past . The United States Tennis Association said Thursday at a news conference in New York that tennis ' largest stadium would benefit from a retractable roof as early as 2016 , bringing the event in line with two other majors that already have cover -- the Australian Open and Wimbledon . A more realistic forecast for that roof is 2017 , though , the USTA said . The USTA added that the tournament 's secondary show court , Louis Armstrong Stadium , would have its own retractable roof by 2018 and has n't ruled out the possibility of covering a third arena at a later stage . The overall cost of the wide ranging project -- which will also include building a new and bigger Louis Armstrong Stadium and Grandstand Court -- is expected to hit $ 550 million , the USTA said . Both of those stadiums are roughly 50 years old . The retractable roof over Arthur Ashe alone is expected to cost in excess of $ 100 million . The men 's governing body in the U.S. will `` self-finance '' the project through a combination of bonds and `` USTA revenue generation , '' it said in a statement . `` We have been working toward a viable design for a roof on Arthur Ashe Stadium for more than a decade , '' USTA chairman and president Dave Haggerty said in the statement . `` Through a long and arduous process , we feel that we now have a design that meets the criteria of being architecturally sound , aesthetically pleasing , reasonably affordable and buildable . '' Players including women 's No . 1 Serena Williams welcomed the news , which likely will mean the tournament wo n't enter a 15th day . The previous five editions have seen Monday men 's finals because of rain , in some cases leading to an unfair advantage for one of the participants in the finale . In 2008 , while Roger Federer was already through to the final after completing his semifinal on a Saturday , Andy Murray had to finish his semifinal a day later due to bad weather before contesting the final on the Monday . `` Obviously it 's going to be great , '' Williams told reporters in Cincinnati , where she is competing at the Western & Southern Open . `` It 's good to know they 're going for it . `` When I first started playing the Open back in the '90s , it did n't rain and now it rains only on the final weekend . Last four U.S . Opens I 've played , they 've had to change completely the schedule . `` You just got to keep moving with the times , '' said Williams , who missed the 2010 U.S. Open due to a foot injury . Murray , however , said having a roof was n't without its negatives . `` I do n't necessarily miss being rained off , but rain delays used to be part of ( grand slams ) , '' Murray told reporters in Cincinnati . `` That 's kind of going away gradually . `` I do n't particularly like going from indoors to outdoors . It 's also so tough . But it 's good for TV . '' The USTA has indeed for years looked into having a retractable roof at Arthur Ashe Stadium -- which seats 22,500 fans -- but it was thought the extra weight could n't be supported . Technological and engineering advances have now made the work possible . By the time all the enhancements are completed , it 's anticipated that an extra 10,000 fans per day will be able watch the tennis on site . Tennis ' other major , the French Open , is hoping to have a roof in place for 2018 although that is not guaranteed . Tsonga pulls out of New York . Jo-Wilfried Tsonga , meanwhile , is skipping this year 's U.S. Open because of the knee injury that forced him to retire at Wimbledon , he told his website . The entertaining Frenchman was forced to stop against Ernests Gulbis in the second round at the All England Club in June and has n't played since . `` It would be stupid to go there knowing full well that I have no chance because I 'm not prepared enough , '' the world No . 8 said . Although he has yet to win a grand slam -- the French men 's drought in singles extends to 30 years -- Tsonga had reached the quarterfinals or better in four of his five majors prior to Wimbledon . He 's optimistic of returning in time for an indoor tournament in France in mid-September . This season 's U.S. Open begins August 26th .
The U.S. Open will have a retractable roof over Arthur Ashe Stadium as early as 2016 . The tournament has been affected by rain since 2008 , leading to Monday finals . TL;DR This year 's tournament will be without Jo-Wilfried Tsonga , who pulled out injured .