Former British tennis star Laura Robson may have dropped herself in some hot water after opposing a rule regarding coverage of Donald Trump during the men’s US Open final.
The US President was in attendance in New York as Carlos Alcaraz put in a near-faultless display to take down Jannik Sinner in yet another epic Grand Slam final in what is a blossoming modern rivalry.
The 22-year-old Spaniard took down Sinner in four sets, 6-2, 3-6, 6-1, 6-4, dethroning him as world No1 in the process. It was his sixth Grand Slam title, a second in New York, and he has won a mammoth sum of five million dollars to go with the silverware.
It was the third Grand Slam final that both Alcaraz and Sinner had contested in a row, after the Spaniard produced a historic comeback to win the French Open in May, while Sinner romped to the Wimbledon title in July.
Just like he did two months prior for FIFA’s Club World Cup final, Trump was in attendance for the extraordinary battle between the two Herculean players.
Before the match, reports surfaced that the United States Tennis Association had distributed an email to media attending the final, which contained a clear directive.
‘We ask all broadcasters to refrain from showing any disruptions or reactions in response to the president’s attendance in any capacity,’ it read.
Trump’s presence meant an enormous increase in security, with the 22,000 fans funnelled through airport-style security gates. With lines snaking throughout the grounds, the United States Tennis Association was forced to delay the start of the match by half an hour.
When he had finally taken his seat, the president was shown on the screen during the national anthem – saluting away – and there was a mixed reaction from the crowd.
After the first set, he was given another airing, and this time there was no mistaking the local feeling – he was roundly booed, with a few cheers thrown in.
Robson was working as a pundit for Sky Sports, covering the final, and she went against the USTA’s instruction and referenced the unfriendly crowd reaction toward Trump.
‘They’ve just shown Trump on the big screen, lots of boos,’ she said.
Even with the delay, there were still hundreds queuing at the security gates well into the second set, meaning thousands missed much of Alcaraz’s early brilliance.
And while the instruction regarding Trump was clear, four-time US Open champion Martina Navratilova couldn’t hide her frustration at the situation.
For the final to be postponed because of this is absolutely insane,’ said Navratilova on Sky Sports. ‘People have paid thousands of dollars for these tickets. It was half empty at the start, normally this place would be rocking.’
Before the turn of the year, the Alcaraz-Sinner rivalry that we now know and love hadn’t even started properly – the two had never met in a Grand Slam final before 2025.
And now, as the curtain comes down on the four major tournaments, the two finish with an even split of two apiece, having contested three sensational finals throughout the year.
‘I want to start with Jannik,’ Aclaraz said after getting his hands on the trophy. ‘It’s unbelievable what you have done in the whole season. I see you more than my family!
‘It’s great to share everything with you and watch you improve, working hard every day. Congratulations to you.’
