Social media influencers disrupted Naomi Osaka’s first-round US Open match by holding an impromptu photoshoot during play.
Osaka was serving at deuce in the fourth game of the second set against Anastasia Zakharova when the chair umpire, Kader Nouni, addressed a group causing a disturbance.
Footage showed a woman using a light to take a picture of a spectator in a hospitality section, while others could be seen walking around and taking pictures.
Nouni said: “Guys, please, in the suite behind me, thank you guys, please take your seat.”
Footage from another spectator captured another group who posed for photos while someone who appeared to be a member of stadium staff held a portable light.
Once the photoshoot had finished, Osaka returned to her serve but struggled with her ball toss, and apologised to her opponent before losing the point to hand Zakharova the advantage.
The two-time Flushing Meadows champion would go on to win the match in straight sets, overcoming the world No 101 in two tiebreaks.
When asked about the incident, the head of US Open communications told the Daily Mail: “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.
“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.”
Tennis etiquette typically dictates that fans are quiet between the points and only leave and enter the court at changeovers, but the US Open is different.
The show courts, Arthur Ashe and Louis Armstrong, can be louder, especially during the night sessions during which some fans are more interested in being “seen” at the tournament than being spectators.
Louis Armstrong can at times feel more like a food court with tennis in the middle. Last year, Britain’s Jacob Fearnley asked the umpire if it was supposed to be “this loud”.