Morgan Riddle has commented on the increasing influencer presence and related disruptions at the U.S. Open, following an incident where a chair umpire paused a match between Naomi Osaka and Anastasia Zakharova due to an "overzealous group" in a suite.
Riddle, who previously dated American tennis player Taylor Fritz, told Us Weekly that the scrutiny on content creators at sporting events is not unique to the U.S. Open. "I don’t think that’s isolated to the Open, necessarily," Riddle said. "I think that’s just the state of the world in general right now... I don’t think it’s just a monoculture happening around the U.S. Open. I just think that’s sort of the zeitgeist right now. People do things for social media."
She acknowledged that while influencers are often singled out, many attendees are also creating content. "Obviously people love to bag on influencers for doing that, but every single person who goes to the Open is going to take photos and take content, except maybe the older, die-hard, OG tennis fans," Riddle explained. "So yes, people do want to blame influencers, but I do think a lot of people you see taking content around the grounds are just regular people."
Riddle, who traveled on the ATP Tour with Fritz, emphasized the need for better communication regarding "general tennis etiquette." She expressed empathy for first-time attendees who may not be familiar with the sport's norms. "There are so many people who are going to the U.S. Open for the first time and they’ve never been to a tennis match before," she stated. "How are they supposed to know the rules?"
Signage at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center advises attendees to "please refrain from the use of flash photography or other lighting." Viral videos have captured instances of individuals using ring lights during matches and influencers recording voiceovers in luxury suites, leading to visible frustration from other spectators.
During her time with Fritz, Riddle developed a significant social media following by sharing fashion, lifestyle content, and behind-the-scenes glimpses of men's tennis. The U.S. Open reportedly approved credentials for nearly 100 content creators this year, more than doubling the number from the previous year. Several top brands, including Moët & Chandon, Ralph Lauren, Adidas, and Dobel Tequila, have hosted influencers at the event.