Naomi Osaka Urges Better Management of Influencer Presence at US Open
NEW YORK – Four-time Grand Slam champion Naomi Osaka has issued a candid critique of the USTA’s recent push to integrate social media influencers into the US Open, calling for a more disciplined approach to maintaining the sport’s traditional etiquette.
As the tournament seeks to broaden its reach to younger, digital-native demographics, the presence of influencers in player boxes and throughout the grounds has become a notable fixture. While acknowledging that these figures can serve as powerful conduits for growing the game, Osaka insists that this growth must not come at the expense of professional standards.
“You Have to Respect the Sport”
Speaking after her hard-fought second-round victory over Katerina Siniakova on Thursday, Osaka emphasized that attending a tennis match carries inherent responsibilities regarding spectator behavior.
“If you come to a sporting event, you have to respect the sport,” Osaka stated. “I feel like it’s common courtesy to read up on the sport. Especially the etiquette.”
The former world No. 1 pointed to incidents during her own matches, suggesting that the integration of non-traditional media figures has been poorly managed. “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 the situation like in my first-round match,” she added.
Her comments underscore a growing tension within professional tennis, where the drive to modernize the fan experience occasionally clashes with the quiet focus required by elite athletes. Osaka clarified that she supports efforts to expand the sport’s profile, provided those efforts are handled with sensitivity to the rules of the game.
“Overall, there’s 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,” she said.
Court Performance: A Resilient Return
Beyond the off-court discourse, Osaka proved her resilience on the court on Thursday. After cruising through a 30-minute opening set against Siniakova, the 13th seed suffered a mid-match collapse, committing 20 unforced errors in a second set that saw her momentum stall.
Refusing to fold, Osaka took a pivotal bathroom break to reset her focus. She returned to command the court in the third, securing an early break and closing out the match 6-2, 5-7, 6-1.
“The match was definitely really tough… I think I was a little bit too hard on myself,” Osaka reflected. “I regrouped a little, came back, and just tried to have no regrets.”
A Day of High-Stakes Tennis
The US Open continues to deliver high drama across the board. While the discussion surrounding the US Open environment captures headlines, the competition remains fierce:
- Rising Stars & Defending Champs: Alex Eala successfully navigated her second-round match, while defending champion Coco Gauff moved forward after a tight contest against Paula Badosa, 6-4, 7-6 (5).
- Narrow Escapes: Madison Keys pulled off a miraculous turnaround, saving five match points to defeat Anna Bondar in a thrilling third-set tiebreak.
- Men’s Draw Upset: The tournament saw a significant shake-up in the men’s draw as Felix Auger-Aliassime—the highest-seeded player to exit thus far—was eliminated by Karen Khachanov. The Canadian struggled visibly with dizziness and vision issues throughout the match.
As the tournament progresses into the later rounds, both the officials and the players will likely keep a close eye on the balance between spectacle and sport, ensuring that the integrity of the US Open remains as sharp as the competition on the court.
