The top-ranked British female tennis player, Katie Boulter, has voiced her frustration over the scent of marijuana, stating it is disrupting her performance at the US Open.
The year’s last Grand Slam tournament kicks off this Sunday at Flushing Meadows, located in New York, a state where recreational use of cannabis is lawful for individuals 21 years and older.
While smoking is banned within the tournament grounds, the aroma of weed drifts over to the courts from the adjacent Corona Park, a nuisance that has previously annoyed several competitors, such as Novak Djokovic and Alexander Zverev.
As she gets ready to compete against American wildcard entry Carol Young Suh Lee in her opening match, Boulter remarked that the scent of marijuana is highly noticeable around the training areas.
“It is not something I enjoy,” noted Boulter, who currently holds the world number 60 ranking. “I am aware that multiple competitors have raised issues about particular courts. During a past match on one of them, I distinctly caught the odor.
“That is not a scent you want to deal with when you are playing. You are attempting to stay locked in, and then it breaks your concentration, which is highly unwelcome.
“External disruptions are the last thing you need. So, I definitely didn’t appreciate it.”
The scent of marijuana has turned into a recurring theme at the tournament over the years.
Back in 2022, Australian Open doubles titleholder Nick Kyrgios protested that a spectator’s smoking near the court was aggravating his asthma, leading the chair umpire to request that the crowd stop smoking.
During a 2023 match, Greek player Maria Sakkari alerted the referee to the scent during play, though she later emphasized she was not blaming her loss on the distraction.
The organizers of the event, the United States Tennis Association, stated they collaborate with local law enforcement and park authorities to limit smoking along the perimeter of the facility.
The organization commented: “Even though we lack authority over activities outside the borders of the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center, we remain highly alert in our efforts to manage the environment.”
British competitors Fran Jones and Harriet Dart, who secured their main draw spots via Friday’s qualifiers, likewise detected the aroma.
“I actually joked about it during my opening round last year, asking an official if this was a regular occurrence,” remarked Jones, who is scheduled to play Poland’s Magda Linette on Monday.
“Since I was playing in the arena right by the park, he confirmed it was. I jokingly responded that it explained why my game was going so well.
“But this time around, I have to tell myself to stay completely focused!”
Following her qualification victory over fellow Brit Heather Watson—which earned her an opening match against Peyton Stearns of the US—Dart commented: “Well, that’s just New York for you. It’s typical of the city.
“It seems like no matter where you go, the smell is present, isn’t it?
“You just have to accept it. Every player has to deal with the same thing.”
