The stage is set for a blockbuster showdown at Arthur Ashe Stadium, but the 2025 US Open men’s final is already making waves before a single ball has been struck. President Donald Trump, a figure never far from the headlines, is set to attend Sunday’s final in New York City, marking his first appearance at the tournament in a decade. His return, facilitated by luxury watchmaker Rolex, has injected an extra dose of intrigue into what was already one of tennis’s most anticipated matches of the year.
Trump, a Queens native and longtime attendee of high-profile sports spectacles, will watch as two of the sport’s brightest stars—Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner—face off for the third consecutive time in a grand slam final. The US Open, hosted at the iconic Arthur Ashe Stadium in Flushing Meadows, Queens, will be buzzing with energy, not only for the titanic clash on court but also for the spectacle unfolding in the stands.
The president’s presence is no small matter. After all, it’s been a full decade since Trump last attended the US Open, when he was met with resounding boos during a quarterfinal match between Venus and Serena Williams. That 2015 appearance, just before his 2016 presidential campaign kicked off, marked a turning point in his relationship with the New York sporting crowd. Since then, Trump’s appearances at tennis events have been sporadic, with his focus often shifting to other arenas—be it presenting trophies at soccer finals or attending UFC bouts. But this Sunday, tennis is back on his agenda, and the world will be watching.
Trump’s return comes by way of an invitation from Rolex, which maintains a prominent suite inside Arthur Ashe Stadium. The luxury Swiss brand is a major sponsor of global tennis and counts both Sinner and Alcaraz among its roster of stars. While Rolex’s official motives remain unconfirmed, some speculate the invitation may have a business angle, perhaps even a bid to lobby the president on Switzerland’s hefty 39 percent tariff. But whatever the backroom dealings, what’s certain is that Trump’s attendance has triggered a cascade of logistical changes. Enhanced security measures have been announced, and airspace restrictions are set to disrupt travel for high-flying fans hoping to chopper into the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center.
The final itself promises fireworks. Carlos Alcaraz, the 22-year-old Spaniard, comes into the match riding high after dispatching Novak Djokovic in straight sets. His opponent, Italy’s Jannik Sinner, overcame an injury scare and battled past Felix Auger-Aliassime in four sets to book his place in the decider. The two have established a gripping rivalry, each claiming victories over the other in recent grand slam finals—Alcaraz at the French Open, Sinner at Wimbledon. With Alcaraz holding five grand slam titles to Sinner’s four, the pair are widely regarded as the best in the men’s game today.
Despite the off-court drama, both finalists have kept a steady focus on their tennis. When asked about Trump’s impending attendance, Alcaraz offered a diplomatic response, emphasizing the honor of playing before a sitting president. “I think that it is a privilege for the tournaments having the president from every country just to support the tournament, to support tennis, and to support the match,” Alcaraz said. “For me, playing in front of him… 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 at the final. But on Sunday, my job is to play my best tennis and not let anything else get in the way.” Sinner, speaking to Italian media, echoed similar sentiments, noting that the presence of a president highlights the importance of the sport without letting politics distract from the competition.
Trump’s history with the US Open stretches back decades, with appearances documented as far back as 1987. He was once a fixture at the tournament, rubbing elbows with celebrities and tennis royalty alike. His connections to the sport run deep—he has presented trophies, managed up-and-coming players, and even featured in tennis-related advertising campaigns. In 1989, he presented Steffi Graf with her Player of the Year trophy at the WTA’s year-end banquet, and in the 1990s, he played a role in Monica Seles’s return to the tour, earning a controversial shout-out during her US Open victory speech. Trump’s involvement has not always been warmly received; both Seles and Trump faced boos from the crowd for their association, a testament to the complex relationship between sports, celebrity, and politics in New York.
While Trump’s return to the US Open has been welcomed by some, not all tennis fans are thrilled. Social media has lit up with criticism, particularly questioning his choice to attend the men’s final rather than the women’s, where world No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka and American Amanda Anisimova are set to compete. “Mind you an actual American woman is playing in a grand slam final tomorrow. So much for putting America first,” one fan remarked online. Others have speculated about the “curse” of celebrity attention, referencing high-profile bets and Trump’s polarizing presence as potential distractions from the sport itself.
Still, the focus on Sunday will be squarely on the court, where Alcaraz and Sinner are set to deliver another chapter in their burgeoning rivalry. With enhanced security and a VIP guest list that includes the president himself, the atmosphere at Arthur Ashe Stadium will be electric. For Trump, the event marks a homecoming of sorts—a return to his New York roots and a reentry into the world of tennis, albeit under very different circumstances than in years past.
The US Open has always been a stage for high drama, both on and off the court. This year, with the eyes of the sporting world fixed on Flushing Meadows, the stakes feel even higher. Whether Trump’s presence will overshadow the play or simply add to the spectacle remains to be seen. But one thing is certain: Sunday’s men’s final is shaping up to be a momentous occasion, with history, politics, and world-class tennis colliding under the bright lights of New York City.
As the finalists prepare for battle and the city braces for the arrival of its most talked-about guest, all that’s left is to see who will seize the moment on tennis’s grandest stage. The action is set, the players are ready, and the world is waiting for the first serve.
