US Open chaos as influencers stage photo shoots and players complain of marijuana smell

The US Open has found itself dealing with an unusual problem: influencers in the stands are drawing so much attention that players say the tournament atmosphere is becoming disruptive.

During Naomi Osaka’s first-round match against Anastasia Zakharova, the umpire, Kader Nouni, briefly stopped play after noticing commotion in a nearby box. Several influencers appeared to be engaged in an improvised photo shoot. Nouni told them to sit down and stop interfering with the match.

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I think, obviously, if you’re going to a sporting event, you should respect the sport. I think it’s common sense to educate yourself about the sport, especially when it comes to the rules of conduct. I think it’s great that people contribute to popularizing tennis among their own audiences, but I think this situation needs to be managed much better, especially in first-round matches.

More than 100 influencers received credentials for this edition of the tournament. Their presence has prompted increasingly sharp reactions from players. Osaka, a four-time Grand Slam champion ranked 13th by the WTA, addressed the issue after later defeating Katerina Siniakova 6-2, 5-7, 6-1.

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There are people there who are trying to compete. It’s their career and their work. I find it a little disrespectful. I feel that, this year, things have gotten a little out of control.

“I think, obviously, if you’re going to a sporting event, you should respect the sport. I think it’s common sense to educate yourself about the sport, especially when it comes to the rules of conduct,” Osaka said. She added that influencers could help popularize tennis, but argued that the situation needed to be managed much better, particularly during first-round matches.

Jessica Pegula said the behavior was disrespectful because players were trying to compete and build their careers. Adrian Mannarino went further, saying the court smelled of marijuana and that the setting was turning into “a real zoo.” He said spectators were moving around and talking as they pleased, and criticized the tournament for tolerating conditions he described as unusual for players and tennis generally.

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It smells like marijuana on court and everything is starting to resemble a real zoo. The conditions are truly unusual. People come in and behave however they want, move around and talk. The tournament tolerates this situation, and I don’t know whether it is the best option for the players and tennis in general.