President Donald Trump drew a mix of cheers and boos from the crowd at Arthur Ashe Stadium on Sunday as he attended the U.S. Open men's singles final between Jannik Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz.
Trump arrived at the Flushing Meadows complex less than an hour before the match and appeared on the balcony of the Rolex corporate suite, where he waved to the crowd and mouthed "Thank you," witnesses and broadcast images showed. He saluted while the national anthem played and was visible alongside White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt, U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi and Jared and Arabella Kushner, according to Associated Press photographs.
Television cameras captured audience reaction as they panned to the suite; viewers and some on-site reporters noted both applause and booing at different points, including reports of boos during the middle of the match. Some critics highlighted the negative reactions, while other observers, including tennis reporter Ben Rothenberg, noted instances of applause as well.
Broadcasters were reportedly instructed to limit footage of disruptions tied to the president's presence. Bounces, a tennis-focused Substack, first reported that the U.S. Tennis Association sent a message to broadcasters asking them "to refrain from showcasing any disruptions or reactions in response to the President’s attendance in any capacity, including ENG coverage." The USTA said it regularly asks broadcasters to avoid showing off-court disruptions.
Carlos Alcaraz, one of the two finalists, said he viewed the president's attendance as a positive for the sport. "I think that it is a privilege for the tournaments having the president from every country just to support the tournament, to support tennis, and to support the match," Alcaraz told The Guardian. "For me, playing in front of him … I will try not to think about it. I don’t want myself to be nervous because of it, but I think attending the tennis match, it’s great for tennis to have the president at the final."
Trump's appearance at the U.S. Open was his first at the Grand Slam tournament since 2015, months after his initial presidential campaign announcement and before his first term in the White House. The match featured two players who have risen to prominence in the post-Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal era; Sinner and Alcaraz have been among the top attractions in men's tennis this season. Novak Djokovic, another leading figure, has not won a U.S. Open since 2023 but reached the semifinals at each Grand Slam tournament this season.
Media coverage of high-profile attendees at major sporting events has prompted discussion about how live broadcasts handle crowd reactions. The reported USTA guidance aligns with prior practice by tournament organizers to limit focus on off-court disturbances so coverage concentrates on play. Broadcasters did show the anthem ceremony and the president in the suite as part of the world and Ashe Court feeds.
The match and the president's visit ended with the customary on-court and stadium activities that conclude a Grand Slam final. The U.S. Open's decision to limit on-air views of crowd reaction and the mixed responses in the stands drew attention from both sports and political observers, underscoring the intersection of politics and major public sporting events.
