Katie Boulter, the 2023 British number one, has complained that the smell of cannabis is putting her off her game at the US Open. The world number 60 prepares to face American wildcard Carol Young Suh Lee in the first round of the tournament. She stated that it is possible to smell cannabis “a lot” on the practice courts at the venue.
Boulter said, “I’m not a huge fan of it,” in comments regarding the persistent issue. She noted that she played on a specific court before and did smell it during her match. The distraction takes players out of the moment when they are trying to focus on their performance.
The final major of the season begins on Sunday at Flushing Meadows in New York. Cannabis is legal for adults aged 21 and over in this jurisdiction. Although smoking is not permitted on site, the smell wafts onto the courts from nearby Corona Park.
Britain’s Fran Jones, who qualified on Friday, also noticed the smell during her preparation. She told reporters that she made a joke about the situation in her first round last year. Jones asked a man if it was normal because she was playing on a stadium next to the park.
Harriet Dart, who beat British compatriot Heather Watson in qualifying, commented on the local environment. It’s New York,” while describing the prevalence of the scent.
Dart is set to play the United States’ Peyton Stearns in her first match.
Other players have raised similar concerns in previous years at the event. Novak Djokovic and Alexander Zverev both noted the odor in prior tournaments. In 2022, Nick Kyrgios complained that a fan was triggering his asthma by smoking courtside.
The United States Tennis Association states it works with local police and the parks department. The organization acknowledges the difficulty of controlling off-site activities.
The USTA said, “While we can’t control what takes place off the grounds of the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center, we continue to be vigilant as we maintain this.” This statement highlights the ongoing tension between local laws and tournament conditions. Players must navigate these external factors during competition.
Maria Sakkari pointed the smell out to an umpire midway through a set in 2023. She later clarified that the odor was not an excuse for her defeat in that match. The issue remains a notable distraction for competitors at this stage of the season.
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