U.S. Open organizer, the United States Tennis Association (USTA), has asked broadcasters to refrain from airing “distractions,” in response to the attendance of President Donald Trump at the men’s final on Sunday, September 7, according to reports from multiple outlets.
Newsweek has contacted the USTA outside of regular working hours via email for comment.
Why It Matters
Trump will make his first visit to the Grand Slam tennis event in New York since 2015. Prior to the launch of his political career, he attended the event regularly. This outing follows many that the president has made to sporting events since he returned to office in January.
In February, Trump became the first sitting president to attend the Super Bowl, and he has also attended UFC fights in Miami and Newark, New Jersey, and the opening of the LIV Golf League in Miami, among other sporting events.
What To Know
A memo, first obtained by Bounces—a Substack dedicated to tennis written by journalist Ben Rothenberg—and reported on by multiple outlets, reportedly reads, “We ask all broadcasters to refrain from showcasing any disruptions to the president’s attendance in any capacity.”
The memo also stated that the president will be shown on the World and Ashe Court Feeds during the opening anthem ceremony, ahead of the final face-off between Italy’s Jannik Sinner and Spain’s Carlos Alcaraz.
Both Trump and his Vice President JD Vance have previously faced protests, boos and jeers during public appearances.
The president will sit in a suite sponsored by Rolex as he attends the match, as per The Associated Press, who cited a source who spoke on the condition of anonymity.
A sitting president has not attended the U.S. Open in 25 years; the last to do so was Bill Clinton.
The match between Alcaraz and Sinner will mark the third Grand Slam final in a row featuring the two men, and two of the most prominent players in the world, after Alcaraz beat Sinner to the French Open title and Sinner reversed the result to win the Wimbledon crown earlier this year.
What People Are Saying
The memo, first obtained by Bounces and reported on by multiple outlets, reportedly reads: “With respect to Broadcast Coverage, the President will be shown on the World Feed and the Ashe Court Feed during the opening anthem ceremony. We ask all broadcasters to refrain from showcasing any disruptions or reactions in response to the President’s attendance in any capacity, including ENG [Electronic News Gathering] coverage.”
Carlos Alcaraz, responding to a question from a journalist about President Donald Trump attending, “It is a privilege for the tournaments, having a president…to support the tournaments, to support tennis, to support the match, for me playing in front of him, so er, to be honest I will try not to be focused, I will try not to think about it, I don’t want myself to be nervous because of it…It’s great for tennis to have the president into the final.”
What’s Next
Alcaraz and Sinner will face off in the U.S. Open final on Sunday, 7 September, at 2 p.m. ET.
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