Naomi Osaka’s US Open clash SUSPENDED as umpire forced to intervene after influencers’ ‘disrespectful’ antics in stands

NAOMI OSAKA’s first match at the US Open was interrupted by a set of unruly influencers. The Japanese tennis star began her quest to reclaim the title in New York this week. Naomi Osaka’s first clash at the US Open was interrupted by distracting influencers Credit: AP A group of loud influencers in a hospitality box disrupted Osaka’s opening contest Credit: TikTok / @katticuspfinch But she hit a speed bump as her clash with Anastasia Zakharova had to be stopped as the umpire told off some inconsiderate members of the crowd. The group in question were captured on film causing a stir in their hospitality box by frustrated fans elsewhere in the crowd. Sign up for the Sport newsletter Thank you! They posed for photographs and took videos while failing to keep volume down at a respectful level, all while lit by a distracting bright light. The disruption came to a head as the group’s behaviour fell during a tense point in the contest. Osaka’s battle on Monday was poised at deuce in the fourth game of the second set, with the two-time US Open winner set to serve. But chair umpire Kader Nouni was forced to step in to pause proceedings and politely ask the group to take their seats and stop being so disruptive. He said: “Guys, please, in the suite behind me, thank you guys, please take your seat.” Osaka fluffed her first serve and eventually lost the point. Most read in Sport CASINO SPECIAL – BEST CASINO BONUSES FROM £10 DEPOSITS The group were told to take their seats by the umpire after he paused the tennis action Credit: TikTok / @katticuspfinch But that did not stop her from storming to a straight-sets victory to set up a clash with Katerina Siniakova in the second round. Video of the incident went viral, with another influencer also spotted posing with a distracting ring light near the court. The tournament has granted around 100 influencers access to the tournament in order to produce content around the game, the venue and food/merchandise. And though it is not clear if the creators in the videos are part of that group, the prevalence of influencers at this year’s event is rubbing some fans up the wrong way. Another fan was spotted using a distracting light to pose in front of the court Credit: TikTok / @katticuspfinch The number of influencers at the tournament has frustrated fans Credit: TikTok / @katticuspfinch Comment now