US Open influencers spark etiquette row with Osaka, Gauff — SkimNews
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- US Open organizers doubled the number of accredited content creators for the 2026 tournament to reach new audiences, but chair umpire Kader Nouni was forced to admonish influencers in a suite for recording video mid-point in one incident.
- Naomi Osaka, speaking after her second-round victory, said spectators must respect the sport and read up on etiquette before attending, calling it "common courtesy" — prompting the USTA to add on-screen reminders about noise, flash photography, and ring lights.
- Jessica Pegula (third seed) said some influencer behavior has been "disrespectful," noting: "People are down there trying to perform. It's their career and their job."
- Coco Gauff (world No. 4) welcomed the influx of new fans but drew a line on decorum: "If you're being invited to a red carpet, you wouldn't show up in jeans."
- The USTA introduced a free fan movement policy in 2024 that no longer requires spectators to wait during changeovers, a change that coincided with the rise in creator-driven activity courtside.
- Influencer Eliza Wastcoat, a former Wimbledon ball kid and Lehigh University alum, said brands, tournaments, and creators all share responsibility for learning tennis etiquette — not just newcomers.
- Chair umpire Marijana Veljovic was also called into action during Osaka's second-round match, repeatedly asking fans to be quiet during points.
Why it matters: The USTA doubled its influencer credentials to grow tennis's audience, but mid-match disruptions — ring lights, mid-point videos, repeated umpire interventions — have already drawn public rebukes from Osaka, Pegula, and Gauff in a single tournament week. With on-screen etiquette reminders now being rolled out mid-event, the governing body faces near-term pressure to rebalance credentialing against the sport's concentration-heavy traditions.
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