Jessica Pegula, ranked number 3 in the world, criticized the behavior of influencers at the 2026 US Open for interfering with matches. ^[1] Coco Gauff, a fourth-seeded American tennis player at the 2026 US Open, issued a message telling social media influencers to 'follow the etiquette' in response to disruptions caused by content creators during matches at the tournament. ^[2] Naomi Osaka's first-round match at the 2026 US Open against Anastasia Zakharova was disrupted when influencers staged a photoshoot with bright ring lights in a suite, prompting chair umpire Kader Nouni to step in. ^[3] A match between Naomi Osaka and Anastasia Zakharova on Monday at New York's Arthur Ashe Stadium was briefly interrupted by a noisy group of influencers filming something like a TikTok dance. ^[4] The United States Tennis Association (USTA) increased influencer media credentials to nearly 100 for the 2026 US Open, up from 54 in 2025, to make the tournament more social-media friendly. ^[5] During the first-round match between Naomi Osaka and Anastasia Zakharova at Arthur Ashe Stadium, a VIP group used portable lights to take photos, disrupting the game. ^[6] Pegula stated that using lights and taking photos for selfies during matches is disrespectful to the players who are competing for their careers. ^[7] Jessica Pegula, the world number three, said at the 2026 US Open that influencers have become 'a little too much' but also appreciated their role in growing the sport and bringing new fans to tennis. ^[8] Naomi Osaka said after her second-round win over Katerina Siniakova at the 2026 US Open that influencers should respect the sport, noting it was the second time in a row her match was interrupted by crowd noise that required the umpire to ask for quiet. ^[9] Brendan McIntyre, the US Open's head of communications, defended the strategy, stating that such disturbances occur infrequently. ^[10] Chair umpire Kader Nouni asked the suite behind him to quiet down and take their seats during the disruption. ^[11] The US Open organization accredited nearly 100 influencers for the 2026 tournament, an increase from the 54 accredited in 2025. ^[12]