"Thank you, Trump!!!": Trump's visit causes a stir – and anger – at the US Open final

Donald Trump is visiting the US Open for the first time in ten years – and the US president's appearance is causing considerable frustration. The start of the final has to be postponed, and the organizers are already requesting censorship measures in advance.

Carlos Alcaraz versus Jannik Sinner: a Grand Slam final couldn't be more spectacular these days. It's a modern-day titanic clash between the two best players of their generation, and they will also face each other in the final of the US Open. 24,000 people in New York witnessed Alcaraz defeat his great rival 6-2, 3-6, 6-1, 6-4, knocking him off the top of the world rankings. In the third Grand Slam final the two have contested this year, the match didn't go the full five sets for the first time. However, one of the most fascinating duels of our time was accompanied – and disrupted – by considerable outside noise: by the visit of Donald Trump.

Trump is attending the Grand Slam tournament for the first time since 2015. Around 45 minutes before the start of the match, he appeared in front of his box in Arthur Ashe Stadium wearing a red tie - and was greeted by the spectators with boos and applause.

"We ask our broadcasters ..."

The tournament organizer, the United States Tennis Association (USTA), had previously requested broadcasters "not to show any interference or reactions in response to the President's presence." However, the USTA stated that this was standard practice: "We regularly ask our broadcasters not to show any interference off-court," the association explained in response to inquiries from various media outlets.

Trump stood saluting in the stands in front of the box during the national anthem as part of the pre-match ceremony, and was shown on screen and on TV during the performance. ESPN, the broadcaster, conveyed the mixed reactions to the world. After the first set, whistles rang out again throughout the massive stadium in the Democratic stronghold of New York as the president reappeared in front of his box and on the video screens. Other celebrities, however, were cheered, including rock icon Bruce Springsteen – who has sharply criticized Trump on numerous occasions and whom the president has long since declared a close enemy.

"Thank you, Trump!!!"

Due to increased security measures accompanying the US President's visit, the final began 49 minutes late. Organizers had initially postponed the start of the final in New York between the then world number one Sinner and world number two Alcaraz by 30 minutes to 8:30 p.m. CEST (2:30 p.m. local time) "due to the current security measures" in order to "give fans more time to take their seats," according to a statement.

However, at the start of the match, some of the nearly 24,000 seats in Arthur Ashe Stadium were still empty. The measures therefore drew criticism. "It's 2:00 p.m. and (the stadium, editor's note) is more than half empty, there's only one way in. Thanks, Trump!!!" wrote the disgruntled tennis icon Martina Navratilova on X. Tickets for the final cost at least $699.

A Secret Service presence was deployed around the Billie Jean King National Tennis Center in Flushing Meadows. It is highly unusual for sitting presidents to attend the final of the year's final Grand Slam tournament: Bill Clinton last attended the final in 2001. Trump, however, has a long relationship with the tournament: Before entering politics, he owned a suite in the stadium for nearly two decades, which he gave up in 2017 during his first term. Trump last attended the US Open in 2015, when the then-presidential candidate was booed.