US Open's 100 Influencers Spark Etiquette Backlash — SkimNews
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- US Open organizers accredited roughly 100 influencers and content creators—double last year's total—part of tournament CEO Craig Tiley's push to build what he calls "the tennis Disneyland" and reach new audiences.
- Naomi Osaka said the chair umpire told the crowd to be quiet more times than she had ever heard during her matches, after a group used a portable ring light for a photo shoot in their hospitality suite while she was serving in the first round.
- Coco Gauff, world number four, welcomed the new demographic but drew a red-carpet line: "if you're being invited to a red carpet, you wouldn't show up in jeans."
- Jessica Pegula, world number three, said some influencer behavior had been "disrespectful" and "a little too much this year," pointing to selfie lights and filming while players are trying to perform.
- Daniil Medvedev took the opposite view, saying there is "a lot more upside than downside" and trusting the USTA's approach to expanding the sport.
- Frances Tiafoe praised the diversity of the New York crowd and said he has "no problem with anybody doing anything" who comes to watch tennis.
- The USTA added on-screen messaging at the grounds reminding fans to "refrain from any activity that could disrupt the game, including noise levels, flash photography and ring lights" following the Osaka incident.
Why it matters: The USTA doubled influencer access to roughly 100 creators to grow tennis, but Osaka, Pegula, and a chair umpire have now publicly flagged ring-light shoots and crowd noise disrupting active play—forcing the tournament to issue mid-event etiquette reminders to protect the product it is trying to sell to a broader audience.
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