Naomi Osaka used her second‑round victory over Katerina Siniakova as a platform to ask the growing contingent of social‑media personalities at the US Open to respect the traditional etiquette of tennis. The request comes after a series of viral clips from her opening match against Anastasia Zakharova showed several influencers chatting, taking selfies and generally ignoring the on‑court action, prompting a debate about how to balance fan engagement with proper decorum at a major sporting event. After a hard‑fought three‑set win—6‑2, 5‑7, 6‑1—Osaka addressed the issue in a post‑match interview. She said, "If you attend a sporting event, you have to respect the sport.
It's common courtesy to at least understand the basic rules and the etiquette that go with it." She added that while influencers can certainly help broaden tennis's appeal, they need to do so in a way that doesn't disrupt the players or the audience. "I think 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 a situation like my first‑round match," she explained. Osaka recalled a moment in her opening round when the umpire repeatedly asked the crowd to quiet down, a request she said was louder than anything she had ever heard an official make.
"I was focusing on the match, but there were people shouting and you could hear it clearly. It bothered my opponent as well," she noted, underscoring how external noise can affect concentration and performance.
The conversation about etiquette extended beyond the stands. Osaka's own on‑court presentation this year was more subdued than the headline‑grabbing outfit she wore for her debut match, when she appeared in a flowing white skirt and a hooded robe printed with newspaper clippings about her.
For the Siniakova match she chose a simple, shimmering all‑white ensemble that would have looked at home on the lawns of Wimbledon rather than the hard courts of Flushing Meadows. The change in wardrobe reflected a broader shift toward a more classic, understated image as she settled into her role as a two‑time US Open champion.
In the match itself, Osaka started strongly, breaking Siniakova to love in the fourth game of the first set and sealing the set with a second break. The second set proved more volatile; after building a 4‑2 lead, Osaka's serve faltered and she was broken three consecutive times, eventually losing the set 7‑5.
Demonstrating the resilience that has defined her career, Osaka regrouped in the decider, dropping only one game before clinching the win and moving into the third round. While Osaka was dealing with the influencer issue, other storylines unfolded across the tournament. Iga Swiatek, the 2022 US Open champion, dispatched Nadia Podoroska 6‑3, 6‑2 in just 71 minutes, marking only the second meeting between the two after their 2020 French Open semi‑final, which Swiatek won on her way to her first Grand Slam title. Swiatek, seeded eighth this year, broke early in the first set and maintained control throughout, converting her first match point with ease and securing her seventh consecutive third‑round appearance at Flushing Meadows.
On the women's side, Madison Keys staged a dramatic comeback against Anna Bondar, saving five match points before prevailing 5‑7, 6‑4, 7‑6 (10‑5). Keys, a 2017 US Open finalist and the 2025 Australian Open champion, rattled off 34 forehand winners and credited the enthusiastic home crowd for her perseverance. "That was something, huh?
No stress though – we all knew I had it, right?" she told the spectators after the victory. The men’s draw delivered its own surprise when third seed Felix Auger‑Aliassime became the highest‑seeded player to exit the tournament up to that point, falling to unseeded Russian Karen Khachanov in the second round. Khachanov, who reached the semifinals in 2022, broke Auger‑Aliassime's serve seven times on Louis Armstrong Stadium and saved seven of nine break points, earning his second top‑10 Grand Slam win. After a tightly contested first‑set tiebreak that Auger‑Aliassime edged, the Canadian could not sustain the momentum and won just seven more games, allowing Khachanov to cruise into the third round.
Meanwhile, American hopeful Taylor Fritz continued his dominant run, dispatching Italy's Mattia Bellucci 6‑0, 6‑1, 6‑1 without dropping a set. Fritz, the ninth seed, is among a select group of American men hoping to end a 23‑year drought without a male Grand Slam singles champion. His powerful serve and aggressive baseline play have positioned him as a serious contender as the tournament progresses. Osaka's appeal for greater respect of tennis etiquette resonates beyond the immediate controversy.
Tennis, like many sports, relies on a shared understanding of conduct—players, officials, and spectators alike are expected to uphold standards that preserve the integrity of competition. Influencers, who command large followings and can draw new fans to the game, have a responsibility to model appropriate behavior.
By learning the basics—such as remaining silent during points, refraining from unnecessary camera work on the court, and acknowledging the umpire's calls—content creators can help introduce their audiences to the sport in a respectful manner. The broader implication is that as tennis continues to evolve and embrace digital platforms, the balance between accessibility and tradition must be carefully managed.
Osaka’s message underscores that growth should not come at the expense of the sport’s core values. With the US Open set to continue through early September, fans, players, and influencers alike will be watching to see how this dialogue shapes the atmosphere at one of tennis's most prestigious events.