Donald Trump attended the U.S. Open for the first time in nearly a decade on Sunday, receiving a mix of boos and cheers from the crowd. Arriving less than an hour before the men’s final between Jannik Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz, Trump was seen clapping and waving from his suite. He briefly returned to the suite before reappearing for the national anthem, which drew further cheers and boos.
Notably, ABC cut to a commercial break when Trump was displayed on the scoreboard after the first set.
The United States Tennis Association (USTA) had requested that broadcasters of the U.S. Open avoid showing protests or reactions to President Donald Trump’s attendance at the men’s singles final on Sunday, according to a memo reviewed by The Athletic.
The USTA noted that Trump would appear on tournament feeds during the pre-match ceremony, which includes the national anthem presentation, before the final between Jannik Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz.
The memo instructed broadcasters to refrain from highlighting any disruptions related to Trump’s presence, as he is expected to watch from a sponsor’s suite, with heightened security measures in place.
The Athletic reports the memo was first reported by tennis journalist Ben Rothenberg of Bounces.
The USTA noted that Trump would appear on tournament feeds during the pre-match ceremony, which includes the national anthem presentation, before the final between Jannik Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz.
USTA spokesman Brendan McIntyre told The Athletic that it’s standard practice to ask broadcasters to avoid focusing on off-court disruptions.
ESPN, the primary broadcaster, declined to comment officially, but a source familiar with the network’s plans, speaking anonymously, said ESPN intends to acknowledge Trump’s presence as it typically does for notable figures at sporting events while maintaining normal coverage of the match.
This marks Trump’s first U.S. Open appearance since 2015, when he was booed during a quarterfinal match between Venus and Serena Williams. Prior to his political career, Trump was a regular attendee at the tournament.