Who is Laura Robson? Ex-tennis star sparks US Open controversy over Donald Trump's 'booing' remark

President Donald Trump’s appearance at the US Open 2025 men’s singles final between Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner caused a stir, overshadowing what was meant to be a thrilling tennis showdown. Fans at the Arthur Ashe Stadium expressed their displeasure loudly, booing the 79-year-old leader as he attended the match. Trump’s unannounced presence delayed the match by nearly 50 minutes. Security measures to accommodate him caused long queues and left thousands of fans unable to enter the arena even after play had begun at the Billie Jean King National Tennis Center. The delay frustrated both spectators and players, putting an unexpected spotlight on the political figure rather than the high-octane final. Adding to the controversy, former British tennis player Laura Robson may have breached media guidelines during the broadcast. The United States Tennis Association had instructed all broadcasters to avoid showing or commenting on reactions to Trump’s attendance. According to a Dailymail report, Robson, working as a pundit for Sky Sports, highlighted the crowd’s reaction when Trump appeared on the big screen. “They’ve just shown Trump on the big screen, lots of boos,” she remarked. The USTA has not commented on Robson’s coverage so far.
Robson, born in 1994, is a former British professional tennis player. She made her junior circuit debut in 2007 and won the Junior Wimbledon championship at age 14. She reached the Australian Open girls’ singles finals in 2009 and 2010 and claimed her first ITF Women’s Circuit tournament in 2008. In Grand Slam events, Robson’s career highlights included reaching the fourth round at Wimbledon in 2013 and the US Open in 2012. At the 2012 London Olympics, she won a mixed doubles gold medal partnering Andy Murray. Robson faced a series of injuries between 2014 and 2015 and, despite returning in 2016, she could not regain form and retired in 2018 at the age of 28. Since then, she has stayed connected to the sport, including working in media. In the tennis final itself, Carlos Alcaraz emerged victorious, defeating world No.1 Jannik Sinner 6-2, 3-6, 6-1, 6-4 to claim the US Open men’s singles crown. While the match delivered on sporting drama, Trump’s attendance and the ensuing chaos became the main talking point for many fans.