Over the weekend, the US Open finals made an unexpected and significant change when the US Star Spangled Banner was not played before the matches. Instead, the songs “Lift Every Voice and Sing,” often referred to as the “black national anthem,” and “America the Beautiful” were performed, sparking a mix of reaction and controversy.
In the finals of the competition, played in New York, Coco Gauff defeated Aryna Sabalenka 2-6, 6-3, 6-2 and Novak Djokovic defeated Daniil Medvedev in straight sets 6-3, 7-6 (5), 6- 3. Although it was done before the tournament’s opening ceremony, the United States national anthem was not played before any match.
“No National Anthem at the #USOpen — just a mix of America the Beautiful…& Lift Every Voice…& Sing,” Megyn Kelly wrote on the X platform that replaced Twitter. This is due to the constant presence of Modena and reminders that “50 years of equal pay!” Can we please have a men’s tennis championship that is not agenda driven?
Sage Steele, a former ESPN broadcaster, echoed Kelly’s sentiments when she said, “Oh… the irony of refusing to allow our national anthem… at the *US* Open. While it’s unfortunate, I’m still optimistic that we can get back to full enjoying American greatness.
Ms Steele’s article sparked a heated debate in the comments section, with some people outraged that the national anthem was not played and others saying that only bigots now support the song and were therefore happy to see it go.
One commenter who supported the anthem wrote: “Could. No. Agree. More. I’m sickened by the level of hostility towards our wonderful nation. These miserable losers can move to many other nations. One crazy commenter on the other side stated, ” It doesn’t bother me at all. The national anthem and the flag have been appropriated by white supremacists and supporters. When I see a few American flags flying in the communities, I feel really nervous. Bars too… they blame the woke; you all know what’s going on. You are an unawakened fraud.
On August 27, US Open organizers announced that “America the Beautiful” and “Lift Every Voice and Sing” would be played before the men’s singles championship, with “America the Beautiful” also announced for the women’s singles championship. However, this announcement did not specify that these songs would be played in place of the US National Anthem.
Another incident during the final that caused controversy online was Coco Gauff’s celebration after winning. After her intense and hard-fought victory, Gauff knelt and appeared to offer a prayer of gratitude. However, Disney-owned ESPN’s Twitter account described the moment differently, saying that “@CocoGauff soaked it all in moments after winning her first Grand Slam title.”
The decision to forgo the US national anthem at the US Open final, along with the various reactions it has generated, is an example of the ongoing debate about patriotism, inclusiveness and the role of national symbols in sports and public events. As discussions of these issues continue, they reflect broader societal conversations taking place in the United States.