Taylor Fritz Defends Influencer Presence at Tennis Tournaments Amid Backlash
Top tennis player Taylor Fritz defends the presence of social media influencers at tournaments, arguing they attract new fans, provided they follow basic etiquette and avoid disrupting matches.
The controversy surrounding social media influencers at the US Open continues to spark debate across the tennis world, even after the conclusion of the Grand Slam. Now, one of the tour's top players has shared a surprisingly supportive perspective.
Taylor Fritz Defends Influencers
Taylor Fritz, one of the prominent names in global tennis, made it clear that he has no issue with the growing presence of content creators at tournaments—as long as they know how to behave appropriately.
Around 100 influencers were invited to the US Open in New York this year as part of an effort by organizers to reach new audiences. However, quite a few of them drew criticism due to their conduct during matches, including filming content in the stands during active points and using equipment that distracted players.
The discussion reached its peak following several incidents at Flushing Meadows, including an instance where influencers used portable lighting equipment during Naomi Osaka's match.
"I think that as long as they more or less know how they're supposed to act at a tennis match, then it's good," Fritz said on The Big T podcast.
Expanding the Fan Base
Fritz believes the issue is not the presence of influencers itself, but rather their behavior. He noted that he does not mind people coming to tennis even if they are not hardcore fans or do not fully understand what is happening.
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Attracting new audiences to the sport.
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Transforming tournaments into trendy events.
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Converting casual viewers into genuine tennis fans.
"I think it brings more eyes to the sport, and more eyes on the sport mean more people will naturally become real tennis fans," Fritz added. Despite his open-mindedness, Fritz drew a clear line regarding equipment and basic etiquette, emphasizing that disrupting the match is unacceptable.
Meanwhile, the controversy has already prompted a response from Wimbledon organizers, who are planning to test a new code of conduct for influencers ahead of 2027 to prevent a repeat of the disruptions seen in New York.
