The US Open men’s and women’s singles finals over the weekend did not feature “The Star-Spangled Banner.” Instead, the tournament organizers announced that “America the Beautiful” and “Lift Every Voice and Sing” would be performed before the men’s singles championship, and “America the Beautiful” was also scheduled for the women’s singles championship.
This decision appeared to leave some viewers and attendees puzzled, with some expressing their disappointment on social media. There were comments about the absence of the national anthem and questions about why “Lift Every Voice and Sing,” often referred to as the Black national anthem, was performed.
It’s worth noting that the national anthem had been performed on the first night of the US Open in previous years, and “God Bless America” had also been part of the tournament’s musical lineup.
The United States Tennis Association did not provide a response or explanation for the change in the national anthem’s performance at the US Open.