Boulter says cannabis smell at US Open is distracting
On Sunday the final major of the season begins at Flushing Meadows in New York, and British number one Katie Boulter has complained that the smell of cannabis at the US Open is distracting her and affecting practice sessions.
Cannabis is legal for adults aged 21 and over in New York, though smoking is not permitted on site; the smell reportedly wafts onto courts from nearby Corona Park and has bothered players in previous years, including Novak Djokovic and Alexander Zverev. Boulter reached the third round of the US Open in 2023. The United States Tennis Association 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."
Boulter, who is world number 60, is preparing to face American wildcard Carol Young Suh Lee in the first round and said it is possible to smell cannabis "a lot" on the practice courts. "I'm not a huge fan of it," she added. "I know a lot of players have complained on some of the specific courts. I've played on one before and I did smell it during my match. "It's something that I wouldn't like to smell in the middle of my match. I'm trying to focus and then obviously, it takes you out of the moment and you really don't want to. "You don't need distractions. So yeah, I wasn't a huge fan of it."
The issue has surfaced at the US Open across multiple seasons. In 2022 Australian Open doubles champion Nick Kyrgios complained that a fan was triggering his asthma by smoking courtside, prompting the umpire to ask supporters to refrain. In 2023 Greece's Maria Sakkari pointed the smell out to an umpire midway through a set and later clarified that it wasn't an excuse for her defeat.
Britain's Fran Jones and Harriet Dart, who both qualified on Friday, have also noticed the smell. Jones said: "Last year I made a joke about that, in my first round, and I said to the guy, 'is this normal?'" adding: "Because I was on the stadium, and it's next to the park. He's like, 'yeah". and I was like: 'Well, no wonder I'm playing pretty well.' "This year I'll be like 'no, lock in, lock in!'" After beating British compatriot Heather Watson in qualifying to set up a first-round match against the United States' Peyton Stearns, Dart said: "I mean it's New York. It's New York. "I feel like everywhere you walk around, it's everywhere, no? "It is what it is. Same for everyone."
Boulter will face Carol Young Suh Lee in the first round, Fran Jones begins her tournament against Poland's Magda Linette on Monday, and Harriet Dart's first-round opponent is Peyton Stearns following her qualifying victory over Heather Watson.
