Naomi Osaka usually does not have a problem focusing on playing tennis and blocking out the crowd when she’s on the court. Her first-round match at the US Open was an exception. “There was a moment where there was people shouting and stuff,” Osaka said. “You could hear it quite clearly.” The source of the disruption: a group of influencers and content creators who have been afforded widespread access at this year’s tournament. The number of content creators who were credentialed has doubled from last year, the AP reports, and the interruptions have made the influencers and tennis etiquette a hot topic at Flushing Meadows. The US Tennis Association began inviting creators last year, and a spokesperson said reaching new audiences is essential to the growth of the sport and the US Open.
Chair umpire Kader Nouni admonished a group of influencers in a suite for recording a video during a point, and another episode Monday involved the use of a bright ring light for photos. In Osaka’s second match, chair umpire Marijana Veljovic asked fans several times to be quiet, which players appreciated. “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,” Osaka said Thursday, adding that fans need to know “the rules and the etiquette.” There have been crowd and noise hiccups, including again Thursday when Osaka played Katerina Siniakova. “Sometimes the people don’t realize that even when they’re like up and they are talking, you can hear it down (on the court),” Siniakova said.
Arthur Ashe Stadium, which serves as center court, has emerged as the place to be at the US Open, and it has become common for fans to pose for photos in the middle of matches during play. Madison Appel, a college tennis player and influencer, responded to online criticism by giving her own tips on fan behavior. “The problem is that no one understands tennis etiquette,” Appel said. “You should only be walking around and taking photos when the two players are sitting down, the music’s up and it’s lively. When players are playing, and they’re in between serving games, you should be in your seat, not taking photos and keeping it quiet. When a player is ready to serve, everyone needs to respect that, sit down and just watch.”