Aryna Sabalenka’s coach, Jason Stacy, recently shared mental strength training exercises on ‘Fox & Friends Weekend.’ These drills are designed to help Sabalenka maintain composure during intense tennis matches. The program included live demonstrations of reaction and coordination exercises, highlighting their importance for mental resilience.
The presence of influencers at the U.S. Open continues to be a controversial topic. The event, held annually in New York City, attracts numerous celebrities and social media personalities. While their role is to draw attention to tennis, critics argue that some distractions may negatively impact the tournament.
In a unique occurrence at Arthur Ashe Stadium, the U.S. Open experienced one such interruption. During a Women’s Singles match, a disturbance in a suite required intervention from chair umpire Kader Nouni to restore order. This followed Naomi Osaka’s preparation to serve against Anastasia Zakharova.
‘Guys, please, in the suite behind me, thank you guys, please take your seat,’ addressed Nouni, attempting to control the situation.
One viral TikTok video showed a spectator using an excessively bright light, disrupting the match. Another clip reported influencers filming promotional content, engaging their viewers with the prompt, ‘Did you miss us?’
The scenario was partly influenced by the United States Tennis Association’s (USTA) decision to engage content creators as a media presence. At the 2025 U.S. Open, 54 influencers obtained media credentials. By 2026, this number had almost doubled, nearing 100, according to USTA’s Jeanmarie Daly.
‘We realized we live in a world where traditional media and content creators reach different audiences in different ways,’ Daly explained. Their initiative aimed for extensive tournament coverage.
Amid distractions, Naomi Osaka triumphed over Zakharova, securing her place in the next round of the U.S. Open.