Wayne Rooney's two-word US Open final verdict as Donald Trump 'falls asleep'

Manchester United icon Wayne Rooney has praised Carlos Alcaraz after the Spaniard beat Jannik Sinner 6-2, 3-6, 6-1, 6-4 to claim his sixth Grand Slam triumph and second US Open crown. Alcaraz, who left the final Grand Slam of the season as victor, has seized back his position as world No. 1, displacing the Italian at the summit of the rankings.

The showpiece in New York City had been postponed following President Donald Trump's entrance at the Arthur Ashe Stadium, which necessitated heightened security protocols. Trump received a mixed reception of boos and applause during the national anthem when he appeared on the giant screen.

The jeers then intensified until the broadcast switched away. The president didn't join in with the applause for Alcaraz pre-match and then appeared to fall asleep in a moment that was caught on camera.

This marked the third Grand Slam of the season where Alcaraz and Sinner have faced off in the championship match - initially at Roland Garros, where Alcaraz prevailed in five sets. Sinner got his revenge with his own five-set spectacular triumph at Wimbledon in July.

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The trilogy's conclusion proved a more emphatic success and left one particular sporting icon captivated. Posting on Instagram following the encounter, Rooney simply wrote: "Incredible talent," whilst sharing an image of Alcaraz in celebration, reports the Manchester Evening News.

Rooney wasn't the sole Manchester-linked football legend closely monitoring the final. Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola, was present as a result of the September international break and was an attentive spectator of the clash in New York.

Guardiola has previously expressed his admiration for tennis legends, claiming he drew inspiration for City's supremacy from the likes of Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal and Novak Djokovic.

Discussing those at the pinnacle of tennis recently, Guardiola explained: "There is one detail that defines them, it is how hard they work. People believing when you are on top of any sport, it is [due to] talents and skills.

"But what would define [them] is they work harder than the other ones, they prepare better than the other ones. They are the best.

"They are never satisfied and how they accept the bad moments or the defeats like it's normal in life, in a sport and how to win the games and how they accept they are nervous or they are playing bad, how they come back immediately."

Guardiola will no doubt be jetting back to England shortly as he shifts his focus to this weekend's Manchester derby against United at the Etihad Stadium.