Tennis Players Complained About The Smell Of Marijuana At The U.S. Open

It all comes down to New York State law.

British tennis players have complained about the smell of marijuana on some of the courts at the U.S. Open.

This was reported by The Guardian.

The scent drifts onto the tennis center grounds from nearby Corona Park.

Marijuana is legal for adults in New York State, but smoking it on the grounds of the Billie Jean King National Tennis Center is prohibited.

Britain’s top-ranked player, Katie Boulter, said she has encountered this problem during training and matches.

“Yes, I’ve noticed it. When you go to the practice courts or the courts near the park, the smell is very strong. I don’t like it. I know that many players have complained about certain specific courts,” the tennis player said.

According to Bulter, she once smelled marijuana right in the middle of a match.

“I was playing on one of them and could smell it during the match. I wouldn’t want to smell it in the middle of a match. I’m trying to focus, but it throws me off my rhythm. Unnecessary distractions don’t help,” Bulter added.

The British tennis player also noted that the smell can interfere with concentration during a match.

Another British player, Francesca Jones, recalled how she joked about this last year during a first-round match.

“Last year, during a first-round match, I joked about it and asked a guy, ‘Is this normal?’ I was in the stadium, and he was near the park. He replied, ‘Yes.’ And I said, ‘No wonder I’m playing so well.’ This year, I’ll be telling myself, ‘Focus, focus!’” Jones said.

Harriet Dart, who, along with Jones, made it into the main draw through qualifying, took the situation in stride.

“This is New York. I think it’s like that everywhere you go. It’s just the way it is. It’s the same for everyone,” Dart said.

The United States Tennis Association (USTA) stated that it cannot control what happens outside the tennis center’s grounds.

“While we cannot control what happens outside the grounds of the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center, we remain vigilant,” the statement said.

The 2026 U.S. Open will take place from August 30 to September 13.

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