Sunday’s US Open clash between Jannik Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz had multiple storylines for the tennis world. Still, Donald Trump’s return to Arthur Ashe after a decade became the highlight. Although he arrived at Flushing Meadows by 1:45 pm, 15 minutes before the showdown, the organizers had to delay the expected start by at least half an hour. After all, the Secret Service cleared about 24,000 fans through an additional screening layer, which led to jammed lines. Safe to say, the boos greeted him throughout the match.

Despite the tight on-court competition attracting everyone’s attention, every move made by the President was also shadowed with keen eyes. One moment in particular did not take much time to go viral on social media. When Alcaraz was leading the third set by 3-0, journalist Ben Rothenberg dropped a tweet, “Trump walked out, as did most of his crew, only about 90 minutes into this match. Not sure if he’ll come back or not.”

The point was quite critical in the match as Sinner and Alcaraz had won a set each before this. Seeing Trump’s largely vacant Rolex suite, the fans wondered whether it was due to the booing of the crowd every time Trump was shown on the screen or to some other reason. In fact, he was booed before the National Anthem when he was shown on the screens. The reaction was so loud that it drowned out the signer’s voice.

And after the first set ended, another set of loud boos was heard as Trump was once again shown on the big screen. He attended the match with his wife, Melania Trump, granddaughter Arabella Kushner, and son-in-law Jared Kushner. Reportedly, he was invited by Rolex, one of Open’s many luxury sponsors. While a guest, Trump did not feel as welcome as he does in UFC octagons or college football games. Although some fans swarmed around his suite to get his attention and even take selfies as he waved at them, every time he was shown on the screen, the cheers were eclipsed by the jeers.

Fans’ imaginations, however, were cut short as Rothenberg updated, “Trump has returned to his seat, quite a while later, right after Alcaraz broke for a 3-2 in the fourth to put this #USOpen on his racquet.” He reemerged not long before Alcaraz clinched the win. And though the president sat most of the match Tiffany-crafted trophy, he did not present it to the winner like he had done to the Premier League team Chelsea when it won the Club World Cup in June.

After receiving the trophy, Alcaraz climbed over to the box, but instead of making his way to greet Trump, he went straight to his team and cheered along with them as he clinched the world No. 1 rank as well. Before the match, the 2x US Open champ was asked how he felt about the President’s presence. Then, he had replied that it was “a privilege” that the American President was “supporting the match.” But he ended the conversation, mentioning he would not make himself nervous thinking about it.

Both Alcaraz and Sinner had to adjust to his presence. Due to the half-hour delay from the 2 pm kickoff, the players had to warm up accordingly. In fact, the US Open trophy, which is usually on the centre court itself, was moved to the Rolex suite where Trump was seated. But neither of the two competitors mentioned much about Trump’s presence in the match.

This was Donald Trump’s first appearance since 2015 at the Grand Slam tournament. Back then, he was a candidate for president and was booed during a quarterfinal match between the Williams sisters.