Naomi Osaka can’t turn tennis into fashion show then criticize US Open influencers for being too loud

Naomi Osaka can wear whatever she wants.

But it’s a little rich for Osaka to complain about the annoying intrusion of US Open influencers, when the fashionista of women’s tennis continually draws attention to herself with outlandish pre-match outfits.

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“The umpire told everyone to be quiet more than I’ve ever heard an umpire tell a crowd to be quiet,” said Osaka, after beating Katerina Siniakova (6-2, 5-7, 6-1) in the second round on Thursday.

“I tell people I normally just focus on the match and the court, but there was a moment where there was people shouting and you could hear it quite clearly.”

If you’ve followed Osaka’s on-the-court wardrobes in recent years, you already know that one of the best tennis players in the world doesn’t always just focus on ‘the match and the court.’

She’s referenced NBA legend Allen Iverson, a ceremonial Japanese kimono and a jellyfish with outfits that have alternately been praised and panned on social media.

Again: Osaka has every right to wear whatever she wants.

Carlos Alcaraz seemingly has confused standard tennis attire with NBA jerseys during his return to the court, while Aryna Sabalenka was forced to chastise a reporter for hinting that she was more focused on self promotion than winning major tournaments.

But when you wear a large green bow and tutu while preparing for a tennis match — which loudly screams ‘Look at and notice me!’ to both the sports and non-sports world — it’s hard to sympathize with Osaka’s anti-influencer comments.

“Obviously, if you come to a sporting event, you have to respect the sport,” Osaka said.

“I feel like it’s common courtesy to read up on the sport, especially the etiquette.”

Old-school tennis purists could argue that Osaka’s over-the-top fashion choices don’t respect the sport.

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I could easily argue that striding across the court while dressed like something resembling a jellyfish — with a large-brimmed hat, overflowing pants, extended veil and needless umbrella — before playing in the Australian Open has helped create the current US Open influencer madness.

From the absurdly overpriced Honey Deuce drink ($23) — has Queens, New York never heard of a delicious Pimm’s Cup? — to unwieldy collections of influencers obnoxiously shouting while a major tennis match is being played, the whole thing proves that end times might really be upon us.

This is supposed to be tennis — an incredibly difficult and intense sport that regularly humbles the most talented players on the planet.

Not a fashion shoot or marketing ploy that doubles as vain self-promotion.

“People are down there trying to perform, and it’s their career and their job,” world No. 3-ranked Jessica Pegula said. “It seems a bit disrespectful.” 

She added: “I can appreciate the influencers coming and kind of showcasing the US Open experience. I think that’s something that the US Open has utilized a lot, as far as food and drinks and things to do and the shops. That part is part of a fan experience and something that people might not know and make them want to go.

“I can appreciate one side of it. But I think we have the other side literally interrupting matches, it gets a little tough.”

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The real question, though, is why the US Open has convinced itself that it so badly needs influencers to be relevant in 2026.

About 100 influencers and content creators were granted accreditation for the 2026 tournament, which is where the problem started.

“I feel like 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 the situation like (my) first-round match,” Osaka said.

“Overall, I think there is huge positives. You want people to continue to grow the sport. I just think it has to be in a way that everyone knows the rules and the etiquette.”

From Netflix’s Break Point reality TV series to Osaka’s 3.3 million Instagram followers, tennis has bounced between brilliant athleticism and a surreal level of narcissism in recent years.

It’s no wonder that influencers have taken over the US Open — and that they’re so loud they’re now being called out by influential tennis stars.