The United States Tennis Association asked broadcasters on the eve of Sunday’s U.S. Open men’s singles final to refrain from showing any disruptions or audience reactions in response to President Donald Trump’s attendance, according to an email circulated to media outlets.
The USTA told broadcasters that the president "will be shown on the World Feed and the Ashe Court Feed during the opening anthem ceremony" and added: "We ask all broadcasters to refrain from showcasing any disruptions or reactions in response to the President’s attendance in any capacity."
The guidance applies to rights-holding broadcasters, including Sky Sports, which were named in reports about the notice. Organizers said the request was limited to the opening anthem ceremony feed; the email was circulated late Saturday as the final between top-ranked Jannik Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz was set for Arthur Ashe Stadium.
Tournament officials said Trump is attending as the guest of a sponsor, understood by multiple outlets to be Rolex, and not as an invitee from the U.S. Open itself. The president’s presence prompted stepped-up security at Flushing Meadows, with the U.S. Secret Service overseeing protection for the visit and additional checks cited for entry to the grounds.
News reports noted that Trump’s visit to the U.S. Open is his first since 2015, when his appearance at the tournament in New York was met with audible boos from parts of the crowd. Coverage of other recent Trump appearances at major sporting events has prompted scrutiny; there were claims earlier this year that boos were edited out of a live Fox broadcast of the Super Bowl while the president was in attendance.
Players said they were trying to maintain focus ahead of the final. Spain’s Alcaraz, who beat Novak Djokovic in the semifinals, told reporters he would "try not to think about" the president’s attendance as he prepared to face Sinner for a third Grand Slam final meeting this year.
The final caps a summer in which both men have traded major titles: Alcaraz prevailed in a five-set French Open final, and Sinner won their Wimbledon rematch two months later. Tournament organizers and broadcasters are preparing for heightened attention on both the match and the presidential visit.
The USTA did not immediately respond to requests for further comment on the distribution of the email or whether any disciplinary guidance would follow if broadcasters captured crowd reaction. Broadcasters generally rely on the world feed for fixed camera shots and have editorial discretion over what portions of arena audio and crowd reaction are included in their own transmissions.
Sunday’s final at Arthur Ashe Stadium is scheduled to begin following the opening ceremonies. The U.S. Open has previously handled politically sensitive moments by coordinating with security and broadcast partners; the instruction to broadcasters to limit coverage of audience reaction underscores the intersection of high-profile sporting events and presidential appearances, a recurring dynamic in recent months as the president has attended multiple major sporting events nationwide.