Naomi Osaka used her recent second‑round triumph over Katerina Siniakova at the US Open as a platform to ask the growing wave of social‑media personalities attending the tournament to respect the sport's traditional etiquette. The request comes after a series of viral clips emerged from her opening match against Anastasia Zakharova, showing several influencers seemingly oblivious to the on‑court action and making noise that disrupted play. Osaka, who rallied from a mid‑match wobble to defeat Siniakova 6‑2, 5‑7, 6‑1 and secure a spot in the third round, said that anyone who steps into a sporting arena should first understand and honor the basic customs of the game. "If you attend a sporting event, you have to respect the sport," Osaka explained in the post‑match interview.
"It's common courtesy to learn about the sport, especially its etiquette. I think it could be a great thing for people to help popularise tennis with their audiences, but it has to be managed much better, particularly in situations like my first‑round match." She added that the umpire in her opening round had to raise his voice more than usual to demand silence, a clear sign that the crowd was not behaving in line with tennis norms. "In my first match I wasn't really paying attention to the crowd," Osaka admitted. "I usually focus on the match and the court, but there were moments when people were shouting loudly, and you could hear it clearly.
I think it bothered my opponent as well." Her comments highlight a broader conversation about how influencers, who often bring large followings to events, can inadvertently affect the atmosphere and even the performance of players if they ignore the quiet and concentration required on a tennis court. While Osaka's remarks about etiquette dominated headlines, her own performance against Siniakova was a showcase of resilience and skill. After a dominant first set, where she broke her opponent early and closed it out 6‑2, Osaka faced a tighter second set. She built a 4‑2 lead but then suffered a dip in her service game, allowing Siniakova to break three consecutive times and take the set 7‑5.
Demonstrating her champion's mentality, Osaka regrouped for the deciding set, breaking early and conceding only one game before sealing the match and advancing to the next round. The Japanese star's fashion choices also attracted attention. In her tournament opener, Osaka turned heads with a dramatic white skirt and hooded robe printed with newspaper clippings about her career.
This time she opted for a more understated, shimmery all‑white outfit that would have looked at home at Wimbledon rather than the bustling courts of Flushing Meadows. The subtle change in attire reflected her focus on the match rather than the spectacle. Elsewhere in the women's draw, Iga Swiatek continued her dominant run, dispatching Nadia Podoroska 6‑3, 6‑2 in just 71 minutes to move into the third round.
This was only the second meeting between the two; their first encounter was the 2020 French Open semi‑final, which Swiatek won en route to her first Grand Slam title. Seeded eighth this year, Swiatek broke early in the first set, maintained control throughout, and secured a crucial break in the second set to finish the match without facing serious pressure.
Madison Keys provided drama in the women's bracket as well, staging a remarkable comeback against Anna Bondar. After dropping the first set 5‑7, Keys rallied to win the next two sets 6‑4, 7‑6 (10‑5), saving five match points in the process.
The 2017 US Open finalist, who later captured the 2025 Australian Open crown, hit an impressive 34 forehand winners and credited the enthusiastic home crowd for her resilience, saying, "No stress though – we all knew I had it, right?" On the men's side, third seed Felix Auger‑Aliassime suffered a surprising second‑round defeat to unseeded Russian Karen Khachanov, becoming the highest‑seeded player eliminated from the tournament to date. Khachanov, a 2022 semi‑finalist, broke Auger‑Aliassime's serve seven times on Louis Armstrong Stadium and saved seven of nine break points, marking only his second top‑10 Grand Slam victory. After a tightly contested first‑set tiebreak that Auger‑Aliassime edged, Khachanov surged ahead, winning the next two sets with relative ease and advancing to the third round. Taylor Fritz continued his strong start to the US Open, overwhelming Italy's Mattia Bellucci 6‑0, 6‑1, 6‑1.
The American, seeded ninth, is among a select group of players hoping to end the United States' 23‑year drought without a male Grand Slam singles champion. His flawless performance, which saw him drop no sets in his first two matches, reinforces his status as a serious contender. Osaka's call for influencer etiquette underscores a larger issue in modern sports: the balance between fan engagement and respect for the integrity of competition.
As social platforms continue to amplify athletes' reach, the responsibility to educate followers about proper conduct becomes increasingly important. By urging influencers to learn the rules and customs of tennis, Osaka hopes to protect the sport's atmosphere while still welcoming new audiences. The US Open will continue to be broadcast live on Sky Sports from August 30, with streaming options available on NOW and the Sky Sports app.
Fans can also look forward to the Laver Cup at The O2 in London from September 25‑27, also shown on Sky Sports.