Wimbledon to bar influencer credentials after US Open disruptions

Wimbledon said it will not grant media credentials to social-media influencers or content creators for next summer’s tournament, and security staff will seize items such as ring lights that could be used during play. The decision follows complaints that influencer activity at the US Open caused interruptions, including a pause in Naomi Osaka’s first-round match when a photoshoot was staged on court.

The US Open this year credentialed roughly 100 influencers, about twice the number from the previous edition, and revoked two of those credentials after rule breaches. Players have voiced concerns about the impact on match flow and court etiquette. > "I feel like it could be a good thing for people to make the sport of tennis popular to their specific audience, but it has to be managed a lot better," Osaka said after the incident.

French player Adrian Mannarino also criticized the atmosphere, noting that spectators move freely during points and that the tournament environment has become chaotic. Wimbledon’s pre-emptive measures aim to preserve a calmer setting for the championships scheduled in about ten months.