Influencers Pause Naomi Osaka's US Open Match as USTA Expands Creator Credentials to Nearly 100
Updated
Updated · Fox News · Sep 2
Influencers Pause Naomi Osaka's US Open Match as USTA Expands Creator Credentials to Nearly 100
3 articles · Updated · Fox News · Sep 2
Summary
Arthur Ashe Stadium play briefly stopped Monday night when chair umpire Kader Nouni told people in a suite behind him to sit down as Naomi Osaka prepared to serve at deuce in the second set.
Viral TikTok videos showed a woman using a large bright light during the point break and a group of influencers filming a promotion from the suite, turning the disruption into a social-media flashpoint.
Osaka still beat Anastasia Zakharova in straight sets after the slight delay in her opening-round match.
Nearly 100 influencers were credentialed for this year's US Open, up from 54 in 2025, as the USTA broadened media access to reach audiences beyond traditional outlets.
As influencers disrupt Naomi Osaka's match, is the U.S. Open sacrificing the integrity of elite tennis for viral social media engagement?
With an $800 million stadium upgrade adding more suites, will flashy content creators permanently alter the traditional etiquette of Grand Slam tennis?