NEW YORK : The U.S. Open men's championship match was delayed on Sunday and thousands of seats remained empty when it finally got underway, as security checks related to President Donald Trump's attendance caused confusion and slowed entry to the iconic New York City event.
Fans waited in long lines, some for well over an hour, outside Arthur Ashe Stadium in Queens, the largest tennis venue in the world with a nearly 24,000-person capacity. U.S. Secret Service and other federal security officers checked bags and ushered fans through metal detectors.
Some attendees who were still outside booed as the match between rivals Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner kicked off a little before 3 p.m. EDT (1900 GMT).
Inside the stadium, Trump was greeted by a mix of cheers and boos when he was shown on the screens.
Kevin, a Brooklyn man employed by a private equity firm, said he had waited an hour and 15 minutes and still had not reached the entrance. The man, who declined to give his last name, blamed Trump for the delay.
"One hundred percent him. Very selfish. I would expect someone like that to have a little bit more grace to know that an event like this would be held up for him being here, especially in a city that hates him," he said.
A Secret Service spokesperson said in a statement, "We recognize that enhanced security for the President's visit to the U.S. Open may have contributed to delays for attendees. We sincerely thank every fan for their patience and understanding."
Strict security measures are standard for any public event that the president attends, regardless of party affiliation or popularity.
The match start time, originally set for 2 p.m. EDT, was pushed back by 30 minutes due to security checks, U.S. Open organizers said
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