A chair umpire halted Naomi Osaka's first-round US Open match at Arthur Ashe Stadium after spectators staged an impromptu photoshoot in a luxury suite.
The disturbance took place during the second set as Osaka served at 40-40 in the fourth game of her match against Anastasia Zakharova.
As Zakharova stood poised to return, Osaka was forced to wait while the chair umpire addressed a group of spectators milling freely inside one of the stadium's hospitality suites. "Guys, please, in the suite behind me, please thank you guys, please take your seat," the umpire announced over the stadium public address system.
Broadcast cameras panned to the suite, showing guests talking and taking photographs in their prime seating area during live play. Elsewhere in the stands, another spectator called out above the hubbub, shouting, "The players are ready!"
When the stadium quieted slightly, Osaka returned to her serve but struggled with her ball toss, apologizing to the court as she reset. After putting away her first serve, the Japanese-American star ultimately conceded the point, giving Zakharova the advantage in the game.
Lighting gear used during live play
Footage captured by another spectator and later shared on social media showed members of the group posing during a game while a person who appeared to be a US Open staff member held up a portable light to assist their shot. A separate social media clip showed another spectator posing in front of the court with a portable ring light on the same evening, also allegedly during live play.
Traditional tennis etiquette requires quiet and stillness from the crowd during points, with spectator movement inside arenas usually restricted exclusively to game changeovers or set breaks. However, the New York tournament has increasingly attracted fans new to the sport who have limited interest in adhering to long-standing spectator conventions.
In professional tennis, the chair umpire is tasked with enforcing rules, keeping score, and keeping order among players and spectators. Because players rely on quiet to hear ball contact and maintain focus, movement or bright lighting in line-of-sight areas during a serve can interrupt concentration.
Organizers defend tournament atmosphere
The US Open is the fourth and final Grand Slam tournament of the annual tennis season, played on hard courts at the Billie Jean King National Tennis Center in Flushing Meadows, Queens. Its main court, Arthur Ashe Stadium, is the largest tennis venue in the world, with a seating capacity of over 23,000 and luxury hospitality suites surrounding the upper tier.
When contacted by Daily Mail Sport for comment on the incident, Brendan McIntyre, head of US Open communications, explained that officials have procedures to handle crowd distractions. "We want our fans and guests to have an incredible time when they attend the US Open, but we also need to ensure that does not interfere with the action and competition on the court," McIntyre said.
"These instances happen infrequently, and similar to when crowd noise reaches a certain level, our chair umpires have the ability to address the crowd when they occur," McIntyre added.
In 2024, US Open organizers scrapped traditional movement restrictions during matches, introducing a policy of "fan free movement." The decision gave the New York event a far more relaxed atmosphere compared to more buttoned-up Grand Slam majors such as Roland-Garros in Paris or Wimbledon in London.
Players competing at Flushing Meadows have learned to adapt to the ambient noise and crowd chatter around the courts. In 2025, American player Emma Navarro described the atmosphere surrounding the tournament's main show court as "casually rowdy."
Social media backlash from tennis fans
While the informal environment is considered a defining feature of the US Open rather than an issue organizers seek to subdue, Monday night's incident highlighted potential drawbacks of the event's broad lifestyle appeal. Night sessions at the tournament have become a sought-after ticket beyond traditional sports circles, with attendees keen to share their presence on social media.
Osaka, a four-time Grand Slam singles champion who won the US Open in 2018 and 2020, had drawn attention earlier in the evening with her final Grand Slam walk-on outfit of the season. Her opponent, Zakharova, was competing against the former world number one on tennis's largest stage.
For tennis enthusiasts watching from home, spectators using the tournament as a photo backdrop rather than watching the match became a source of frustration. Online users accused the group of disrespecting both the players and the sport.
"This is so disrespectful," one user commented under the footage. "As someone who grew up playing tennis, it’s not a strictly fashion event, you go because you love the game and to respectfully watch the match."
Another user expressed similar frustration, writing: "Tennis has become a joke with all these influencers getting freebies who don't even know the player's names."
