Players Complain About Cannabis Odor at US Open in New York

New Delhi, August 29: The main draw of the US Open is set to begin this Sunday, but players have raised concerns about the smell of cannabis in New York. In the city, it is legal for adults aged 21 and over to consume and possess marijuana.

Britain’s top player, Katie Boulter, is among those who have voiced their complaints about the odor. The smell wafts from nearby Corona Park to some of the outer courts. Boulter, currently ranked 60th in the world, is preparing to start her campaign against American wildcard player Carol Young Suh Lee. She mentioned that the smell of cannabis was overwhelming during her practice sessions.

“I really dislike it,” Boulter stated. “I know many players have complained about it on certain courts. I played on one court before, and I noticed the smell during my match. I wouldn’t want that to happen in the middle of a match.”

She added, “I try to focus, and obviously, it pulls you out of that moment, which is something you don’t want. You don’t need distractions. So yes, I really didn’t like it.”

Other British players, including Fran Jones and Harriet Dart, have also complained about the cannabis smell. Jones recalled, “Last year, I joked about it in my first round and asked someone, ‘Is this normal?’ because I was in the stadium, and it’s right next to the park. They said, ‘Yes.’ I thought, ‘Well, that’s why I’m playing so well.’ This year, I’ll tell myself, ‘No, focus, focus.'” Jones is set to begin her campaign against Poland’s Magda Linette. Dart remarked, “This is New York, so such things are common here. Honestly, you can see this anywhere in the world. The situation is what it is. It’s the same for all players.”

Meanwhile, the US Open organizers, the United States Tennis Association (USTA), have stated they are aware of the issue. In a statement, the USTA said, “While we cannot control what happens outside the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center, we remain vigilant regarding this matter.”

This is not the first time players have raised concerns about this issue. Last year, the world’s 20th-ranked player, Casper Ruud, mentioned that the worst thing about New York was the smell. Previously, in 2022, Australia’s Nick Kyrgios complained that he suffered an asthma attack due to a fan smoking near the court. Greek tennis star Maria Sakkari also reported smelling cannabis during her match at the 2023 US Open.

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