Spanish tennis sensation Carlos Alcaraz has described U.S. President Donald Trump’s planned attendance at Sunday’s men’s singles final of the US Open as a positive moment for the sport. Speaking after his semifinal clash against Novak Djokovic on Friday, the 22-year-old five-time Grand Slam champion said the presence of the president at one of tennis’s biggest stages would bring added significance to the event.
Trump, who has recently made a series of high-profile appearances at major sporting competitions — including February’s Super Bowl and the FIFA Club World Cup final in July — is set to become the first sitting U.S. president to attend the men’s US Open final. The last presidential appearance at the tournament came in 2000, when then-President Bill Clinton watched the women’s final in New York.
“I think it is a privilege for any tournament to have the president of the country showing support for tennis and the players,” Alcaraz said. “For me, playing in front of him will be special, but I will try not to let it affect my focus. It’s important for tennis to have that kind of recognition.”
The Spaniard, currently one of the sport’s biggest stars, has booked his spot in the championship match where he will face either defending champion Jannik Sinner of Italy or Canada’s Felix Auger-Aliassime, who are battling in the other semifinal. Alcaraz, who has steadily cemented his reputation as a dominant force on hard courts, will be seeking to add another major title to his growing collection.
As excitement builds for the final at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center, the blend of athletic excellence and political presence promises to make the showdown one of the most memorable moments in recent US Open history.
