Extract from The New Daily
Donald Trump is the first president to attend the US Open final in 25 years. Photo: AAP
President Donald Trump has been met with a mix of boos and cheers after causing delays while attending the US Open final.
Thousands of ticket holders had to undergo extra security, which created a massive queue build-up outside the gates of New York’s Arthur Ashe Stadium.
The blockbuster men’s singles final between the world’s top two players, Jannik Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz, was pushed back by more than half an hour.
There were increased security checks at entrances to the grounds and also into the arena building.
When the first point was finally played, there were many empty seats, with the 24,000-capacity arena only about two-thirds full.
Trump is the first president in 25 years to attend the tournament final.
No White House occupant has been at Flushing Meadows since Bill Clinton in 2000.
When Trump appeared in the stands, the crowd erupted with a mix of loud cheers and booing.
Trump was also booed when he appeared on the big screen during the US national anthem.
The White House disputed reports of booing and accused the “Fake News Losers” of lying.
“Their pea-sized brains have been irreversibly destroyed by TDS [Trump derangement syndrome],” the White House said.
It was reported that TV stations broadcasting the US Open were earlier issued with directives not to air any audience reaction to Trump’s attendance.
The United States Tennis Association (USTA), which hosts the event, told media to “refrain from showcasing any disruptions or reactions in response to the President’s attendance,” according to People.
The final was being played between top-seeded Jannik Sinner and world number two Carlos Alcaraz in a hard-court showdown that will determine the top ranking.
Sinner has been close to unbeatable the past two seasons — except against Alcaraz, who leads their head-to-head series 9-5.
Sinner is into a fifth straight slam final, dating to his title in New York a year ago, and he’s 33-1 at majors in that span, the lone blemish against Alcaraz in Paris.
Since the start of 2024, Sinner is 1-6 against Alcaraz and 109-4 against all other opponents.
And since the start of May, Alcaraz is 36-1, with that loss coming against Sinner at the All England Club – also Alcaraz’s first defeat in a slam final.
The Spaniard leads the tour in wins (60) and titles (six) in 2025, and has reached the finals at his past eight tournaments.
“It’s something that I’m working on, just the consistency on the matches, on the tournaments, on the year, in general, just not having up-and-downs in the match,” Alcaraz said after his semi-final win over Novak Djokovic.
“So I’m thinking I’m doing that in this tournament, which I’m really proud about,” added Alcaraz, who hasn’t dropped a set over these two weeks, thanks in part to an ever-improving serve. “Probably, I’m just getting mature.”
Knowing each other so well means that Alcaraz and Sinner figure they will make – and see – some tweaks in Arthur Ashe Stadium, where they first faced off in the 2022 quarter-finals, a victory for Alcaraz in a match that ended at 2.50am on his way to his first grand slam title.
“Surely, Carlos will try to do something different than he did in the Wimbledon final. And we need to prepare for that. We’ll have to come up with some small tactical changes, too,” said Simone Vagnozzi, one of Sinner’s two coaches.
Sinner and Alcaraz are far and away the best men’s tennis has to offer, no matter the surface.
Whoever wins on Sunday, it will be the eighth straight major that ends with Sinner or Alcaraz receiving the trophy.
“We are players who are pretty complete, I’d say,” Sinner said. “We can change the way we play. He, I think, he does it better in his way. I make my adjustments in my way.”
-with AAP
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