Donald Trump caused a stir at the US Open final on Sunday night after turning up late, delaying the match, and then appearing to fall asleep during Carlos Alcaraz’s sixth Grand Slam triumph.
The former president arrived at Flushing Meadows amid heightened security and fan disruption, reportedly causing a 30-minute delay to the men’s final between Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner. His entrance left thousands of fans stuck outside the stadium as security procedures brought the event to a standstill.
By the time Trump had taken his seat, the pre-match atmosphere had already been overshadowed, and his presence continued to draw attention throughout the match. Cameras caught the 47th President of the United States sitting motionless during the post-match celebrations, refusing to applaud Alcaraz’s win as virtually everyone else in the stadium rose to their feet in ovation.
At one point, Trump was seen with his eyes completely shut, prompting speculation that he had nodded off during the second set of the match. Body language expert Judi James later told reporters that Trump appeared disconnected from the moment and described his body language as “ironic” and “withdrawn.”
“Trump’s reaction to a very excited and celebratory Alcaraz seems out of step with the rest of the crowd,” James said. “As everyone is clapping and cheering, Trump appears to hike his pants from the belt and perform a wry, closed-lip, ironic-looking smile and pull at his jacket rather than clap.”
The chaotic scenes followed a pattern from Trump’s recent sporting appearances. Earlier this year, he turned up front and centre at the FIFA Club World Cup final trophy ceremony, making headlines by standing directly in front of players during the celebrations. He’s also been a frequent face at UFC events, NASCAR races, and college football games.
But tennis seems to be a different story. Despite pre-match excitement over his attendance, Trump cut a notably unimpressed figure throughout Sunday’s contest.
Alcaraz, who had spoken before the final about the honour of playing in front of the president, said ahead of the match: “For me, playing in front of him… to be honest, 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 into the final.”
That enthusiasm wasn’t returned.
Trump declined to join in any applause, avoided engaging with the crowd during key moments, and eventually slipped away from his seat just 90 minutes into the match — before many fans had even reached their seats due to the entry delays caused by his arrival.
He returned in time to see Alcaraz lift the trophy but kept his arms folded and expression stiff, refusing to clap as the Spaniard soaked in the cheers.
According to reports, event organisers had taken special steps to manage the optics of Trump’s appearance. A memo allegedly circulated by the USTA instructed broadcasters, including ESPN and Sky Sports, not to air any negative reactions or booing from the crowd when Trump first appeared on the jumbotron.
Despite those efforts, audible boos rang out across Arthur Ashe Stadium the moment Trump was shown on the big screens.
For all his bravado at other sporting events, Trump’s visit to the US Open was marked by awkwardness, tension, and visible disinterest. The man who had no trouble basking in the spotlight at UFC ringside looked distinctly bored by the tennis elite’s biggest night.
It’s not the first time Trump has stirred controversy during a sporting event, but Sunday’s performance — from delaying the final to seemingly nodding off mid-match — marks another surreal chapter in his unpredictable post-presidency sporting tour.
Alcaraz, meanwhile, didn’t let the off-court drama distract him. He delivered a ruthless performance to defeat Jannik Sinner and claim his sixth Grand Slam title, further cementing his status as the future of the sport.
