USTA asks broadcasters to censor reaction to Donald Trump’s attendance at U.S. Open

The Athletic has live coverage of the U.S. Open men’s final featuring Jannik Sinner vs. Carlos Alcaraz

The United States Tennis Association asked broadcasters of the U.S. Open to censor any protests or reaction to President Donald Trump’s appearance at the men’s singles final Sunday, according a memo reviewed by The Athletic on Saturday.

The memo was first reported by the tennis reporter Ben Rothenberg of Bounces.

According to the memo, Trump will be shown on feeds from the tournament during the pre-match ceremony, which includes the presentation of the U.S. national anthem, ahead of the final between Jannik Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz.

“We ask all broadcasters to refrain from showcasing any disruptions or reactions in response to the President’s attendance in any capacity,” the USTA said in the memo. The memo said Trump planned to watch the match from a suite as a guest of a sponsor, prompting additional security for the event.

“We regularly ask our broadcasters to refrain from showcasing off-court disruptions,” USTA spokesman Brendan McIntyre told The Athletic.

ESPN declined official comment. A person briefed on the network’s plans, speaking on condition of anonymity because they were not charged with running the production, said it planned to show Trump and acknowledge his presence as it usually would during sporting events, and to cover play on the court as normal.

This is Trump’s first appearance at the U.S. Open since 2015, when he was a candidate for president. He was booed then at the Billie Jean King National Tennis Center, during a quarterfinal match between Venus and Serena Williams.

Before he moved into politics, Trump was a frequent attendee of the U.S. Open. He had a suite at the tournament for nearly two decades, and gave it up in 2017 during his first term.

(Photo: Matthew Stockman / Getty Images)