The start of Sunday’s US Open final between Jannik Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz was delayed by 30 minutes because of tighter security measures enforced with president Donald Trump in attendance.
It was confirmed by the White House on Friday that Trump would return to Flushing Meadows for the first time since 2015, and tournament sources indicated that he would be an invited guest of the Swiss luxury watchmaker Rolex in its hospitality suite inside Arthur Ashe Stadium.
Long queues formed outside Arthur Ashe Stadium as spectators passed through security checks before Sunday’s final
ISHIKA SAMANT/GETTY IMAGES
The match had been due to start at 7pm BST but was pushed back to 7.37pm. Crowds were pictured in lengthy queues outside the stadium as they waited for the president to take his seat. Trump’s presence at the tournament is the latest in a list of high-profile sports outings since beginning his new term. It marked Trump’s first appearance at Flushing Meadows since 2015 — when the then-presidential candidate and his wife Melania were booed on arrival by the crowd.
The development came after organisers of the tournament requested that its television broadcasters “refrain from showcasing any disruptions or reactions” involving Trump.
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An email sent by the United States Tennis Association to all of its rightsholders on Saturday confirmed that footage of Trump would be shown on the worldwide feed during the singing of the national anthem before the match. He would also appear on the large screens inside the 23,000-capacity stadium, which is the largest tennis arena in the world.
In anticipation of the potential for boos and protests from spectators, the USTA attempted to prevent this from being seen by viewers worldwide. The UK broadcaster Sky Sports was among several outlets to receive the request to censor any negative reactions.
“With respect to broadcast coverage, the President will be shown on the world feed and the Ashe Court feed during the opening anthem ceremony,” the USTA email read. “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.”
Before 2016, Trump was a regular at the US Open, and was born only four miles from Flushing Meadows
PHOTO BY URI SCHANKER/GC IMAGES
The worldwide feed is produced by ESPN, the American sports cable network which holds the domestic television rights for the tournament. Sunday’s final, starting at 2pm Eastern Time, will also receive additional live exposure across the United States on ABC.
While most of Sky Sports’ coverage is taken from the worldwide feed, the broadcaster does have the ability to show extra footage through additional cameras of its own on site. Sky commentators also have a view of everything on and off the court with a designated commentary box inside Arthur Ashe Stadium.
Security was ramped up across the tournament complex on Sunday, with the addition of TSA-style airport screening as a second check for every person who enters Arthur Ashe Stadium. Regular screening will continue to take place at all entry gates for the wider Flushing Meadows site.
Trump alongside the Chelsea squad after presenting them with the Club World Cup trophy in July
HEULER ANDREY/EURASIA SPORT IMAGES/GETTY IMAGES
Credentialed individuals have also been warned by the USTA to “expect some delays moving around in public areas that may briefly become restricted access or frozen zones at certain times during the match” depending on the movements of Trump throughout the afternoon.
Before his long period of absence started in 2016, Trump — who was born in the same Queens borough as Flushing Meadows, only four miles away at the Jamaica Hospital Medical Center, made regular appearances at the US Open in a hospitality suite controlled by the Trump Organization. It was situated in a prime position next to the ESPN television commentary booth, with pundit John McEnroe memorably popping out in 2015 to warmly greet Trump.