Naomi Osaka calls for respect at the US Open
Naomi Osaka has urged social media influencers flocking to the US Open to familiarise themselves with the conventions of tennis spectatorship, following a series of disruptive incidents during her opening matches at Flushing Meadows, reports BritPanorama.
The four-time Grand Slam champion found herself at the centre of a growing row over spectator behaviour after a group in one of Arthur Ashe Stadium’s premium hospitality suites staged what appeared to be an impromptu photoshoot — complete with portable ring lights — whilst she was preparing to serve during her first-round encounter with Anastasia Zakharova.
The episode, which forced chair umpire Kader Nouni to halt proceedings, has become emblematic of wider concerns about the tournament’s decision to invite a reported 100 content creators to attend and produce material on its behalf. The disruption occurred at a pivotal moment in the match, with the score locked at deuce in the fourth game of the second set.
Osaka subsequently missed her ball toss on the following point, though she ultimately prevailed in straight sets, winning 7-6 (8-6), 7-6 (7-3). Speaking two days later, the Japanese star revealed that the noise had troubled her more than the lights themselves, noting that her opponent appeared equally unsettled by the commotion.
After defeating Katerina Siniakova 6-2, 5-7, 6-1 to reach the third round, Osaka addressed the matter directly in her press conference. “I think obviously if you come to a sporting event you have to respect the sport, and I feel like it’s common courtesy to read up on the sport, especially the etiquette,” she said.
Osaka acknowledged the potential benefits of broadening tennis’s appeal through social media personalities but insisted the approach required far greater oversight. “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,” she added. “Overall I think there are huge positives. You want people to continue to grow the sport. I just think it has to be in a way that everyone knows the rules and the etiquette.”
French veteran Adrian Mannarino, 38, echoed Osaka’s frustrations, describing the atmosphere at this year’s tournament as “a zoo,” particularly criticising the US Open’s policy of permitting free fan movement during points. This approach contrasts sharply with the regulations at Wimbledon and Roland-Garros, where spectators remain silent and still whilst play is in progress.
The USTA remains steadfast in its approach. Spokesman Brendan McIntyre stated that such disruptions are infrequent, adding: “Similar to when crowd noise reaches a certain level, our chair umpires have the ability to address the crowd when they occur.” Osaka’s next challenge will be a third-round clash with 20th seed Elise Mertens on Saturday, with the Japanese player holding a six-win advantage in their head-to-head meetings.
The growing question of influencer access at Flushing Meadows shows little sign of abating. The tournament has granted credentials to approximately 100 content creators this year, tasked with generating material to promote the event. Osaka has previously described the US Open’s distinctive energy as akin to a stage; however, her message this week was clear: expanding the sport’s reach is welcome, but not at the expense of the competitive environment that makes it worth watching in the first place.
Tennis now stands at a crossroads, grappling with its traditions and new trends. As audience engagement shifts, the challenge will be to maintain the essence of the sport while adapting to the modern influences shaping it.
