US Open influencers get credentials revoked after online flex goes wrong

Social media influencers also known as content creators have been a hot topic at the 2026 US Open . The tournament began giving credentials to influencers in 2025, issuing 54. That number has nearly doubled, to 100, in 2026.

Tennis is trying to grow its fanbase. Some, including Daniil Medvedev , are embracing this move to include content creators, others believe it is a big mistake. Those opposed believe it is driving away the geniune fans of the sport and replacing them with people only there to sip Honey Deuces and record the experience.

A pair of credentialed US Open influencers named Meg Radice and Audrey Jongens, allegedly excited to share their experience, shared their credentials in a video. That was followed by immediate tournament action to promptly revoke them. Radice and Jongens share an Instagram page called theviplist with 154,000 followers.

Meg Radice and Audrey Jongens want credentials reinstated

TMZ reported that Radice and Jongens are making public pleas to the tournament to reinstate their credentials as they had blocked off the entire two weeks to go to and record content at all US Open events.

They did not realize they did anything wrong. The US Open likely reacted swiftly because anyone could screenshot and produce a copy of the credentials pictured to gain entry.

September 3, 2026; New York, United States; Japan's Naomi Osaka acknowledges fans after winning her second round match against Czech Republic's Katerina Siniakova. Mandatory Credit: Robert Deutsch-Imagn Images

This is another example of credentialed influencers being disruptive at the tournament. The umpire at Naomi Osaka's first round night match had to address a group who were filming live video with lights as the match was being played.

Is US Open losing its luster partly because of influencer influx?

Some believe the antics of the credentialed influencers is tarnishing the tournament. It is unclear if the US Open will continue to embrace influencers to the level it has this year in future years.