Fans hail ‘beautiful’ national anthem as US Open honors 9/11 anniversary ahead of all-American semifinal between Ben Shelton and Frances Tiafoe
The US Open marked the 25th anniversary of the 9/11 terrorist attacks with a touching moment of silence and a stirring rendition of the national anthem before Ben Shelton squared off with fellow American Frances Tiafoe in the semifinals.
In a performance described as a ‘moving tribute’ by The Athletic’s Lukas Weese and ‘beautiful’ by many others in attendance, pop singer Jojo belted out The Star-Spangled Banner accompanied by the New York Vocal Collective choir. Meanwhile, Mervin Primeaux-O-Bryant performed in Sign Language as Army cadets from West Point unfurled a large American flag on the court.
‘JoJo with an absolutely gorgeous national anthem to commemorate 9/11,’ one admirer wrote on X, adding: ’10s across.’
‘JoJo needs to sing eveeeery National anthem for the US at sporting events!!’ another added. ‘She can saaaaang baby!!!’
Even those who are admittedly down on the anthem appreciated JoJo’s performance.
‘I still feel like the National Anthem has zero meaning in the current state of the country but gotdamn Jojo just ATE that,’ one fan joked.
JoJo sings the national anthem during a ceremony marking the 25th anniversary of 9/11
Mervin Primeaux-O-Bryant performed in Sign Language as Army cadets from West Point unfurled a large American flag on the court before
In a performance described as a ‘moving tribute’ by The Athletic’s Lukas Weese, pop singer Jojo belted out The Star-Spangled Banner accompanied by the New York Vocal Collective
Another fan claimed JoJo ‘bodied the national anthem,’ which appeared to be meant as a compliment.
But many others were far more serious in their adulation.
‘Well that #USOpen National Anthem, on the 25th Anniversary of Sept 11, in New York City, in a match between 2 Americans…. brought all the emotion,’ one fan wrote. ‘Incredible.’
Born Joanna Noëlle Levesque in Brattleboro, Vermont, the 35-year-old JoJo does have some practice with the tune after performing it at WWE matches and a New England Patriots game in Foxborough, Massachusetts, where she was raised.
A total of 2,753 people died at New York’s World Trade Center when a pair of hijacked airplanes crashed into the Twin Towers. That death toll includes 343 firefighters and 71 law-enforcement officers.
JoJo’s performance fittingly took place before an All-American semifinal, which means an American man will be in the singles final for the first time since 2024. No American man has won a US Open singles title since Andy Roddick in 2003.