Carlos Alcaraz Reacts to Donald Trump Attending US Open Men’s Final

By

Marni Rose McFall is a Newsweek reporter based in London, U.K. Her focus is on internet trends, U.S. politics and popular culture. She has covered fashion, culture, art and music extensively. Marni joined Newsweek in 2024 from Frasers Group and had previously written for Cosmopolitan, Schon, The Fall and Voir Fashion. She is a graduate of The University of Edinburgh. You can get in touch with Marni by emailing m.******@******ek.com.

Marni Rose McFall

News Reporter

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Carlos Alcaraz has reacted to President Donald Trump attending the U.S. Open Men’s final, ahead of his face off with Jannik Sinner, a clash which will go on to crown a new world No. 1.

“It’s great for tennis to have the president into the final,” Alcaraz told reporters.

Why It Matters

Alcaraz, born in Murcia, Spain, won the U.S. Open at the age of just 19, becoming the world No.1 in his breakout season in 2022. Now 22, he has won five Grand Slam titles and is making a play to be the greatest male tennis player of his generation.

Since the commencement of his second term in January of this year, Trump has traveled to many sporting events. He became the first sitting president to attend the Super Bowl in February and has attended multiple other events, including UFC fights in Miami and Newark, New Jersey, and the opening of the LIV Golf League in Miami.

What To Know

Alcaraz, currently the world No. 2, will face off against Sinner, currently the world No. 1, and Trump is expected to be in attendance at the Arthur Ashe Stadium in New York.

Alcaraz’s response to Trump’s attendance has quickly gone viral online. The clip of him speaking to reporters was shared by the account, TheTennisLetter on X, where it has amassed 1.7 million views as of press time.

Though Alcaraz said that it was “great,” and a “privilege,” for tennis and the tournament to have a world leader there, he said that he personally would try not to be focused on it, to avoid becoming “nervous.”

Sinner, 24, is from Italy and is making a play for his third Grand Slam title of the season, following victories at the Australian Open and Wimbledon. He is also trying to become the first repeat men’s champion at Flushing Meadows since Rodger Federer, who won five championships in a row from 2004 through to 2008.

Meanwhile, Alcaraz is looking to secure his sixth major trophy overall, and the second of this year, following victory at the French Open.

This match will mark the third Grand Slam final in a row for the two men, and two of the most prominent players in the world, after Alcaraz beat Sinner to the French Open title and Sinner defeated Alcaraz to win the Wimbledon crown earlier this year.

What People Are Saying

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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