Influencer Morgan Riddle defended the influx of content creators invading the US Open this year – despite the controversy that they have sparked. The Grand Slam has attracted new fans to the sport in recent years but this year’s tournament has seemingly become increasingly overrun with influencers. The impromptu photoshoot between points, chatting and moving around have caused quite the stir at Arthur Ashe, leaving traditional tennis fans disgruntled over the lack of etiquette. However, Riddle, who amassed a following of 500,000 followers on Instagram and 613,000 on TikTok through her tennis content during her six-year relationship with American tennis star Taylor Fritz, played down the uproar. The 29-year-old claimed that the social media frenzy wasn’t isolated to the US Open, insisting that it was a reflection of the ‘state of the world.’ She also defended the influencers descending on Flushing Meadows, claiming that they are not the only ones whipping out their phones for a selfie in the stands. Influencer Morgan Riddle defended the influx of content creators invading the US Open Guests of a US Open hospitality suite were told off by a chair umpire for taking pictures during a game, seemingly using a portable light (ringed)’Obviously people love to bag on influencers for doing that, but every single person who goes to the Open is going to take photos and take content, except maybe the older, die-hard, OG tennis fans,’ she told US Weekly. ‘So yes, people do want to blame influencers, but I do think a lot of people you see taking content around the grounds are just regular people.’She added: ‘It extends into things like wedding content. People will pay like $10,000 for a photographer for their wedding to impress people from high school on Facebook. It’s just the state of the world.’This year’s US Open reportedly approved ‘close to 100’ credentials for social media influencers, more than doubling last year’s volume, according to Front Office Sports. The tournament has already been rocked by disruptions with an umpire forced to intervene in the middle of four-time Grand Slam champion Naomi Osaka’s first-round match earlier this week after a group of spectators were caught filming a video in between points.Riddle admitted that there needs to be ‘better communication’ with new fans about the sport’s etiquette to combat the rising issues.’I want to be empathetic about that, too, because there are so many people who are going to the US Open for the first time and they’ve never been to a tennis match before,’ she said. ‘How are they supposed to know the rules?’On Monday evening, Osaka was in the thick of the second set against Anastasia Zakharova, serving at 40-40 in the fourth game. Riddle, 29, previously dated American tennis star Taylor Fritz (R) before splitting this year The luxury seats provided a backdrop for an atmospheric photoshoot as Naomi Osaka toiled on the court belowBut as her opponent was poised to return, Osaka was forced to wait until the chair umpire had chided a group of spectators in one of Arthur Ashe’s hospitality suites.’Guys, please, in the suite behind me, please thank you guys, please take your seat,’ the chair umpire announced to the stadium, as the broadcast camera panned to a group milling freely within their prime seats, taking pictures and talking.Elsewhere in the stands, another spectator was heard calling out: ‘The players are ready!’When the stadium had stilled somewhat, Osaka returned to her serve but struggled with her ball toss, apologizing as she reset.Finally able to put away her first serve, the Japanese-American star went on to concede the point to hand Zakharova the advantage.Footage captured from another spectator of the group on social media later showed them posing as a group, allegedly during a game, with a person who appeared to be a member of US Open staff holding up a portable light to help them capture the shot.The social media clip showed another spectator on the same evening posing in front of the court with a portable light, also allegedly during live matchplay.When contacted by Daily Mail Sport for comment on the incident, Brendan McIntyre, head of US Open communications said: ‘We want our fans and guests to have an incredible time when they attend the US Open, but we also need to ensure that does not interfere with the action and competition on the court. @katticuspfinch Tennis etiquette is that you don’t even GET UP IN THE MIDDLE OF A POINT but now at @US Open apparently it’s ring lights and photo shoots everywhere in the MIDDLE OF A POINT. Listen, I love bringing new people to the open and I’m all for getting more people into tennis because it’s such a fun sport to watch but if you’re going to disrespect the players, you shouldn’t come to the match. And I LOVE content creators bringing tennis to everyone on social media but if you’re not going to be respectful of the game being played thats NOT OKAY. Yyou can see ring lights from all over the stadium and the umpire and players made it very clear that it’s a HUGE DISTRACTION and it’s now impacting the players ability to play the game we are all here to see. And apparently the us open and USTA are just fine with it because their staff is helping it happen. @influencersinthewild @Tennis Channel #nyccontentcreator #naomiosaka #usopen #tennistiktok #usopentennis ? original sound – There I Ruined It One social media user called out ‘influencers’ for taking pictures while action was ongoing Despite her split from Fritz, Riddle hasn’t shied away from attending this year’s Grand Slam ‘These instances happen infrequently, and similar to when crowd noise reaches a certain level, our chair umpires have the ability to address the crowd when they occur.’Riddle brushed off her split from Fritz earlier this year, refusing to shy away from attending this year’s US Open despite no longer dating the world No 10. She attended the first day of the tournament on Sunday night, watching Novak Djokovic’s match with Mariano Navone from a court-side seat. Fritz, meanwhile, is the No. 9 seed at the US Open and one of the tournament favorites. He and influencer/model Olivia Jade were spotted in New York only last week, marking their first public appearance since they were first linked back in May.Rumors of his breakup with Riddle first surfaced on April 6 when social media accounts claimed Fritz had ‘dumped’ her, though she initially attempted to laugh off those rumors. Ultimately she posted a picture of herself wearing a ‘World’s Best Ex-Girlfriend’ T-shirt weeks later.