Naomi Osaka calls for better management of influencers at US Open

Naomi Osaka, of Japan (AP Photo)

Naomi Osaka has called for better management of influencers attending the US Open, saying their presence can help grow tennis but should not come at the expense of respecting the sport's rules and etiquette. The four-time Grand Slam champion spoke about the issue after advancing to the third round with a 6-2, 5-7, 6-1 victory over Katerina Siniakova on Thursday. The USTA has invited a large number of influencers to the tournament as part of its efforts to broaden tennis's reach and connect with new audiences. Osaka acknowledged the potential benefits but believes there needs to be greater awareness among those attending matches. "If you come to a sporting event, you have to respect the sport. I feel like it’s common courtesy to read up on the sport. Especially the etiquette," Osaka said. She added that bringing influencers into the tournament can introduce tennis to audiences who may not otherwise follow the sport. "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."

‘You want people to continue to grow the sport’

Osaka stressed that she is not against efforts to expand tennis's audience. Instead, she believes that growth should come alongside an understanding of how to behave at matches. "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 & the etiquette." Her comments come as the US Open continues to attract attention from audiences beyond traditional tennis fans, with influencers becoming an increasingly visible presence at major sporting events.

Osaka survives Siniakova scare

Osaka's comments came after she recovered from a mid-match lapse to reach the third round. The No. 13 seed raced through the opening set in 30 minutes and moved 4-2 ahead in the second, but her level dropped sharply as she committed 20 unforced errors after making only four in the first set. Siniakova took the second set 7-5, but Osaka quickly regained control in the decider. She broke for a 2-0 lead before completing a 6-1 final set. "The match was definitely really tough and I don’t know, I just felt like I had to fight," Osaka said. "I definitely had a couple opportunities in the second set and I think I was a little bit too hard on myself. So I took the bathroom break, regrouped a little, came back and just tried to have no regrets."

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Eala, Gauff also advance

Alex Eala also booked her place in the third round after defeating Oleksandra Oliynykova 6-1, 6-4. The No. 17 seed from the Philippines enjoyed strong support from the crowd and said she was proud to represent her country. Coco Gauff, the 2023 US Open champion, progressed after beating Paula Badosa 6-4, 7-6 (5), while 2022 champion Iga Swiatek and 2025 runner-up Amanda Anisimova were among the other winners. Madison Keys survived a major scare, saving five match points before edging Anna Bondar 5-7, 6-4, 7-6 (10-5). On the men's side, Felix Auger-Aliassime became the highest-seeded player to exit so far, losing to Karen Khachanov after struggling with dizziness and vision problems.

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