Influencer access and tennis etiquette dominate early U.S. Open conversation

Credentialed influencer count doubles at Flushing Meadows

The number of content creators credentialed to cover the 2026 U.S. Open has doubled from the previous year, according to reporting from the tournament site, placing influencers in branded suites throughout Flushing Meadows and feeding a widening etiquette dispute on the grounds.

Naomi Osaka's first-round match disrupted

In her opening match, Naomi Osaka said she could hear a group shouting clearly during play. Chair umpire Kader Nouni admonished a group of influencers in a suite who recorded video in the middle of a point, and a separate incident on the Monday night card involved the use of a bright ring light to take photographs.

Osaka's second match draws another umpire intervention

In Osaka's second match, chair umpire Mari [truncated in source] intervened after further crowd noise, underscoring how the disruptions have moved from a single viral moment to a recurring concern as the tournament's early rounds progress.

Coco Gauff backs creators but presses for clearer rules

Asked at a Thursday press conference how she feels about the influx of TikTokers in the stands, Coco Gauff said: "I think it's great to have a different demographic to the sport. I have no problem with influencers. I've met some of them and follow some of them online. Luckily, the ones I do follow online do follow the etiquette and know tennis pretty well." The 22-year-old added that any venue requires observance of its etiquette and singled out no flash photography and not talking loudly during points, specifically calling out not "mouthing TikToks and stuff in the middle of a point," and suggested that brands post etiquette 101 signs inside the suites.

Fan reaction and the "Honey Deuce crowd" label

Longtime tennis fans have, according to on-site reporting, reached a breaking point with what the coverage labels the rapidly growing Honey Deuce crowd at Arthur Ashe Stadium, where branded suites have continued to open their doors to content creators. The combination of louder-than-usual crowd noise and creators unfamiliar with tennis conventions has shifted the early tournament conversation from results to behavior in the stands.