US Open under the influence: content creators spark debate
The U.S. Tennis Association nearly doubled creator passes to promote social media coverage, but umpires warned fans after noisy photo shoots disrupted play.
- The Tennis Association expanded creator credentials to almost 100 for the 2026 US Open, more than doubling the 54 badges awarded in 2025 to amplify the tournament's social media presence.
- A noisy photo shoot disrupted Naomi Osaka's first-round match against Anastasia Zakharova, forcing the chair umpire to intervene at Arthur Ashe Stadium during play.
- Jessica Pegula called the behavior "a bit disrespectful," noting that creators use selfie lights while athletes are trying to perform during matches as their career and job.
- Russian Daniil Medvedev, the 2021 US Open champion, countered that increased sport visibility offers "a lot of more upside than downside," suggesting players can inform referees of disturbances.
- Influencer Morgan Riddle suggested better communication on "general tennis etiquette," noting that social media pressure is a broader cultural trend, not isolated to influencers alone.
16 Articles
16 Articles
Content creators interrupted games to record videos and take photos during the New York Grand Slam.Naomi Osaka, Adrian Mannarino and Jessica Pegula questioned the behavior of some spectators.The tournament relaxed the rules and credited about 100 influencers, a sign of the new times.
Morgan Riddle weighs in as US Open influencer drama ramps up
Morgan Riddle entered the chat on influencer drama at the US Open after a chair umpire had to pause the first-round match between Naomi Osaka and Anastasia Zakharova on Monday due to an overzealous group in a suite at Arthur Ashe Stadium on Monday.
NBC Bay Area
NBC New YorkU.S. Open match halted over loud influencers recording videos: 'Cringiest thing I've ever seen'
The backlash comes as the tournament leaned further into influencer culture this year, awarding nearly 100 content creators credentials.
“A Bit Disrespectful”- Jessica Pegula & Daniil Medvedev Can’t Agree on US Open Influencer Frenzy
Influencers are taking over the US Open, and not everyone is happy about it. As content creators receive greater access at Flushing Meadows, their behavior during matches has raised serious questions about whether social media attention now matters more than tennis etiquette. Jessica Pegula and Daniil Medvedev, however, stand on opposite sides of the debate. “I think that I can appreciate, you know, the influencers coming and kind of showcasing,…
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