Carlos Alcaraz insists it will be a privilege to play in front of Donald Trump after the President made a surprise decision to attend Sunday’s US Open final.
Trump was a regular visitor Flushing Meadows before he entered the political arena but hasn’t attended the tournament in a decade.
On his last appearance for the 2015 quarter-final between Venus and Serena Williams, Trump was booed by fans as a consequence of his anti-immigrant rhetoric.
After a 10-year absence, however, Trump is set to take in Sunday’s historic match between Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner whose growing rivalry is currently dominating the men’s game.
‘Well it’s a privilege for the tournament having the president from every country to support the tournament and support tennis,’ said Alcaraz following his victory over Novak Djokovic.
‘For me playing in front of him to be honest I will try not to be focused on that and think about it.
‘I don’t want my self to be nervous becuase of it. But attending the tennis match is great for tennis to have the president at the final.’
Alcaraz will take on Sinner in a third straight grand slam final after the Italian held off the challenge of Felix Auger-Aliassime.
For the first time in the open era, two men will meet each other in three major finals in the same season, with Sinner and Alcaraz achieving levels of dominance not even seen at the height of the Roger Federer-Rafael Nadal duopoly.
After Alcaraz comfortably saw off Djokovic, Sinner was given a test by Canadian Auger-Aliassime, who was playing in his second grand slam semi-final, but the world No.1 pulled away to win 6-1 3-6 6-3 6-4.
With the victory, Sinner becomes just the eighth man ever to reach all four slam finals in one season and the youngest in the open era, while his hard-court winning streak at the majors of 27 matches has equalled Djokovic’s best with only Federer now ahead of him.
After Alcaraz was victorious in Paris and Sinner at Wimbledon, the stakes could not be higher for Sunday’s final and the winner will not only claim supremacy in that metric but will leave New York as world number one.
Sinner, who can win a fifth slam overall and fourth in the last five majors, said: ‘Amazing season, obviously. The grand slams are the most important tournaments and finding myself again in the final, with an amazing crowd, it does not get any better.
‘It was a very tough match today but obviously I’m very happy. Let’s see what coming. Sunday is going to be a very special occasion. We know each other very well.’