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The US Open men’s final between Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner was delayed by 30 minutes and began in front of hundreds of empty seats due to additional security measures in place for the arrival of president Donald Trump.
The additional time taken to search individuals and bags enforced the United States Tennis Association (USTA) to delay the final so to ensure ticket holders get into the stadium on time for the highly anticipated final between the best two players in the world.
However, hundreds of fans were still waiting to get through the security by the time Alcaraz and Sinner took to the court.
A statement from the USTA said: “As as result of the security measures in place, and to ensure that fans have additional time to get to their seats, we have pushed the start time of today’s match to 2:30 p.m. ET.”
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Trump waves after arriving at the Arthur Ashe Stadium (Getty Images)
Trump arrived at Arthur Ashe Stadium in Queen’s after flying in from the White House on Sunday morning.
Air Force One arrived at LaGuardia airport, with roads around the Billie Jean King tennis centre in Flushing Meadows closed to prepare for his arrival.
Enhanced security measures were in place for spectators, with TSA-style security screening for all individuals as they enter Arthur Ashe Stadium.
Fans told The Independent that it took them around 30 minutes to pass through security, but that was before the queues became even longer.
Trump will watch the match from a private suite in the Arthur Ashe Stadium, and was seen waving from his box after arriving around 30 minutes before the intended start time.
Trump used to be a regular visitor to the tournament in New York, but was booed during his last appearance at the US Open in 2015, which came a few months after launching his presidential campaign.
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US President Donald Trump salutes as he steps off Air Force One upon arrival at LaGuardia Airport (AFP via Getty Images)
The USTA have asked broadcasters to refrain from showing any negative reaction towards Trump during the US president’s appearance at the men’s singles final on Sunday.
Trump was shown on the big screen at Arthur Ashe Stadium during the national anthems, which precedes the start of the match.
In an email to broadcasters, including Sky Sports and ESPN, the United States Tennis Association (USTA) asked for coverage to “to refrain from showcasing any disruptions or reactions in response to the President’s attendance in any capacity”.