Mental Drills and Influencer Impact at the U.S. Open

Jason Stacy, the performance coach for tennis star Aryna Sabalenka, appeared on ‘Fox & Friends Weekend’ to showcase how his mental strength training drills benefit the player during intense matches. These drills focus on helping Sabalenka maintain composure under pressure. During the live segment, the hosts participated in reaction and coordination drills, demonstrating their practical application.

Influencers at the U.S. Open

The presence of influencers at the U.S. Open is a longstanding tradition, but their impact on the event is being questioned. Critics argue that some are present for visibility rather than genuine engagement with the sport. This behavior can even disrupt play if it crosses certain boundaries.

An incident illustrating this occurred at Arthur Ashe Stadium during a Women’s Singles match on September 1, 2026. Naomi Osaka, a four-time Grand Slam champion, faced Anastasia Zakharova. The match briefly halted due to distractions from spectators in luxury suites.

“Guys, please, in the suite behind me, thank you guys, please take your seat,” chair umpire Kader Nouni addressed the audience.

This interruption caught broad attention when videos emerged showing a woman using distracting lights for content creation during the match. Another video depicted a group of influencers filming promotional content.

The Role of the USTA

The United States Tennis Association (USTA) has increasingly accredited content creators as media participants at the U.S. Open. Linda Daly, USTA’s director of media operations, reported nearly 100 such credentials distributed this year. This reflects a strategic shift toward inclusivity of diverse media formats.

“We realized we live in a world where traditional media and content creators reach different audiences in different ways,” Daly told Front Office Sports. “Our goal for the program was to have the broadest possible spectrum of coverage for the tournament.”

Despite the minor delays, Naomi Osaka succeeded in winning her match against Zakharova. This event highlighted the evolving landscape of media engagement with the sport.