Coco Gauff defends polarizing influencer takeover of US Open: Grow the sport

Coco Gauff had a good laugh when asked about influencers amid debates on their etiquette at the U.S.Open.During a press conference following her win against Paula Badosa in Round 2, Gauff explained that her problem isn’t with influencers and that it ultimately comes down to following tennis etiquette.“I think it’s great to have a different demographic to the sport.

I have no problem with influencers.I’ve met some of them and follow some of them online,” Gauff, the world No.

4, said Thursday.“Luckily, the ones I do follow online do follow the etiquette and know tennis pretty well.“Any venue you come to, you have to follow the etiquette toward it.

And I definitely think it may be on some of the brands, too, maybe to have a sign plastered or something in the suite — so they know, because, you know, sometimes, it’s their first tennis match.They don’t know.

They’ve probably been to basketball games before.“But I definitely think no flash photography because that does bother [me].And I am one of the more lenient players.

There’s very few times you hear me complain about noise.But the flash, definitely.

No flash in the points.Try not to talk too loud.

Ashe is a very loud court, so I’m used to it, but definitely not like mouthing TikToks and stuff in the middle of a point.“And I think it’s not just for the players, but for the viewing experience, for those around … But I definitely think it’s cool to have a new demographic, and I definitely think it helps grow the sport.

But, like with anything, any venue you go to, like, if you’re being invited to a red carpet, you wouldn’t show up in jeans.I think it’s just follow the etiquette of the sport.

That’s all.”Influencers are the talk of Flushing Meadows after some caused a stir during Monday’s first-round match between Naomi Osaka and Anastasia Zakharova at Arthur Ashe Stadium.The chair umpire had to pause the match due to an overzealous group of influencers, who were fi...