Source : INDIA TODAY NEWS
Naomi Osaka has urged social media influencers attending the US Open to respect tennis etiquette, saying their growing presence at the tournament needs to be “managed a lot better.”
The issue has emerged as a talking point in New York after videos circulated online showing some influencers appearing to pay little attention to matches. Osaka’s first-round win over Anastasia Zakharova was also briefly disrupted by a group of spectators staging a photo shoot while she was serving.
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After beating Katerina Siniakova 6-2, 5-7, 6-1 to reach the third round, Osaka said there was a place for influencers in the sport, but they should not interfere with play.
“Obviously, if you come to a sporting event, you have to respect the sport,” Osaka said.
“I feel like it could be a good thing for people to make the sport of tennis popular to their specific audience, but I think it has to be managed a lot better, especially in a situation like my first-round match.”
The four-time Grand Slam champion also noticed the noise from the stands during her second-round match, saying the chair umpire had repeatedly asked the crowd to quieten down.
“I normally just focus on the match and the court, but there was a moment where there were people shouting and stuff, and you could hear it quite clearly,” Osaka said. “I think it bothered my opponent, too.”
Influencers and content creators have been a prominent presence at this year’s US Open, with smartphones and ring lights becoming a familiar sight around the tournament grounds.
Organisers said around 100 content creators were given credentials, including 20 focused on covering the food and beverage offerings. Thousands more social media users have attended as ticket holders.
The trend has not been without controversy.
A chair umpire reprimanded a group of patrons for staging a disruptive photo shoot while Osaka was serving against Zakharova. Another social media user attracted criticism after posting photographs from inside Arthur Ashe Stadium while Madison Keys was playing a point against Alina Korneeva.
Jessica Pegula, the 2024 US Open runner-up, said she understood why influencers wanted to showcase the tournament but felt some of the content had crossed a line.
“I can appreciate the influencers coming and kind of showcasing the U.S. Open experience,” Pegula said.
“But I do think that it’s tough when you see videos like that when they’re taking pictures and using the selfie lights. People are down there trying to perform, and it’s their career and their job. It seems like a bit disrespectful.
“I think it’s gotten a little maybe too much.”
The increased influencer presence comes as the US Open continues to grow in popularity. Attendance has risen to the point that organisers expanded the main draw action to 15 days, while the mixed doubles competition was moved to a standalone event the week before the singles tournament.
The ATP Tour has also embraced the push for greater social media exposure, expanding its partnership with TikTok earlier this year after citing a more than 25% increase in posts under #tennis during 2025.
Daniil Medvedev, the 2021 US Open champion, said greater exposure could only help the sport, provided it did not interfere with matches.
“The more we try to raise awareness about tennis, the better it is, the more popular the sport is,” Medvedev said.
“For sure, if it disturbs during the play, like if you see the light or something, well, you always say to the referee. It can be sometimes challenging if during the point this happens.”
– Ends
SOURCE :- TIMES OF INDIA
