Rain, rain, under sky so bleak, go away until late next week.

That was the damp refrain at the US Open tennis as showers disrupted play at the year's final Grand Slam tennis event for the third day in a row.

A veritable water torture kept the world's top tennis talent relaxing inside lounges within Arthur Ashe Stadium while workers occasionally mopped and wiped the Flushing Meadows hardcourts during the brief moments when showers stopped.

"There's a very low chance we'll play because conditions are perfect for this spitting we have," tournament referee Brian Earley said. "We ain't playing in spotty drizzle."

Bleak forecasts into the weekend for little more than scattered clearing provided a grim backdrop as weather radar and replays of past year's matches became the dominant images on television screens across the complex.

A storm system following along the jet stream is sending storms through the area one after another.

It could fade by Friday but a major storm from the Caribbean is expected to approach New York for the weekend.

Rainer Schuettler, the eighth seed from Germany, was practically named for weather like this.

And such wet conditions might have been perfect for American Mardy Fish to swim into contention had he not been ousted in the second round.

Michael Chang, the Asian-American star who followed Pete Sampras into retirement last week, was to have been honoured in a farewell ceremony Tuesday at Arthur Ashe Stadium but the showers will likely postpone the tribute.

Brought to you by AAP © 2024 AAP