Featured Image Credit: Getty
Topics: US Open, Tennis, Carlos Alcaraz, Donald Trump
Ben McAleer
The US Open has made a request to broadcasters ahead of the men’s singles final this weekend.
Jannik Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz will lock horns at Flushing Meadows on Sunday as the best men’s players battle to land another Grand Slam.
It’ll be the first time the pair have met since Sinner was forced to retire in the final of the Cincinnati Open in August due to illness.
The Italian then sat out the mixed doubles to kick off the US Open last month, and today’s men’s singles final will be the fifth time the pair face off in 2025.
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Alcaraz has won three of the four meetings between the duo this year and is out to claim a sixth Grand Slam success of his career.
And he’ll aim to do so in front of US President Donald Trump, who’ll make an appearance at the USA’s biggest tennis event for the first time in a decade.
Trump accepted a corporate invite to a suite at the Arthur Ashe Stadium in New York.
The US President is expected to be shown on the big screen at the Arthur Ashe Stadium during the national anthems, which precedes the showpiece event.
However, in an email to broadcasters such as Sky Sports and ESPN, the United States Tennis Association asked for coverage “to refrain from showcasing any disruptions or reactions in response to the President’s attendance in any capacity”.
Trump used to regularly attend the US Open but hasn’t made an appearance at the tournament since 2015 having been booed 10 years’ ago, which came a few months after launching his presidential campaign.
Enhanced security measures will be in place at the US Open final owing to Trump’s visit, the 79-year-old having attended more sporting events in recent months, including the Club World Cup final in July.
While Trump’s trip to New York is expected to be criticised, Alcaraz has spoken positively about the President’s attendance, and insists he won’t be distracted by playing in front of the US Commander-in-Chief.
“I think that it is a privilege for the tournaments having the president from every country just to support the tournament, to support tennis, and to support the match,” Alcaraz said of Trump attending Sunday’s game.
“For me, playing in front of him… I will try not to think about it.
“I don’t want myself to be nervous because of it, but I think attending the tennis match, it’s great for tennis to have the president at the final. But on Sunday, my job is to play my best tennis and not let anything else get in the way.”
Sunday’s US Open men’s singles final will see both Sinner and Alcaraz make history as they become the first two players to meet in three consecutive Grand Slam finals.
Alcaraz defeated Novak Djokovic to make the US Open final, while Sinner is out to defend his title having beating Felix Auger-Aliassime in the other semi-final.
Victory for Alcaraz over Sinner will see the Spaniard regain the World Number 1 ranking.