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.
12 Articles
12 Articles
Jessica Pegula Does Complete 180 On Influencers At U.S. Open After They Disrupt Naomi Osaka Match
The top-seeded American woman at the 2026 U.S. Open, Jessica Pegula, is walking back her endorsement of influencers attending the event after a recent incident that interrupted a match involving Naomi Osaka. Pegula, who is currently ranked third in the world but is still looking for her first career Grand Slam victory, was initially supportive of influencers […]
“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,…
US Open under the influence: content creators spark debate
The US Tennis Association doubled down this year on credentials awarded to content creators -- reportedly handing out almost 100 after making 54 available in 2025 to amplify the tournament's presence on social media. The influencers focus not just on tennis, but on fashion, food and lifestyle topics that are now an inextricable part of the game. But the embrace of content creators sparked some backlash when the chair umpire of Naomi Osaka's firs…
Morgan Riddle Reacts to Influencer Controversy at US Open: ‘The State of the World’
Influencer Morgan Riddle reacted to the US Open seemingly being overrun more than ever by content creators and their cameras. “I don’t think that’s isolated to the Open, necessarily,” Riddle, 29, exclusively told Us via her partnership with 7UP. “I think that’s just the state of the world in general right now … I don’t […]
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