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Boulter calls it distracting
British number one Katie Boulter said the smell of cannabis is putting her off her game at the US Open, where the final major of the season begins at Flushing Meadows in New York and cannabis is legal for adults aged 21 and over.
“I'm not a huge fan of it”
Boulter, preparing to face American wildcard Carol Young Suh Lee in the first round, said it is possible to smell cannabis "a lot" on the practice courts and added, "I'm not a huge fan of it."
The BBC also noted that the smell has bothered players in previous years, including Novak Djokovic and Alexander Zverev, and that the United States Tennis Association works with the local police and parks department to reduce smoking on the site boundary.
The Independent similarly described how the aroma of weed wafts over some outside courts from the nearby Corona Park, even though smoking is not allowed on site at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center.
Sabalenka halts play
World No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka briefly stopped her US Open third-round match against Kamilla Rakhimova on Friday after complaining to the chair umpire about a strong smell of marijuana coming from the stands at Louis Armstrong Stadium.
Sabalenka told umpire Eva Asderaki-Moore, "Someone is smoking weed," and asked, "Would you mind to … because it's so strong."
After Asderaki-Moore spoke to an official on her radio and made a smoking gesture with her fingers, play resumed and Sabalenka went on to win 6-3 6-4 and reach the fourth round.
The BBC added that smoking is not permitted on site at Flushing Meadows but the smell of cannabis sometimes wafts on to court from the nearby Corona Park, where it is legal for adults aged 21 and over.
USTA response and next
The USTA said it cannot control what takes place off the grounds of the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center, but it continues to be vigilant as it maintains the facility as a smoke-free environment.
“we continue to be vigilant… Although it may be legal in New York”
In its statement, the USTA said it works with the NYPD and Parks Department and believes that has helped to decrease smoking near its fence line, while noting that smoking is not permitted on parks property including the tennis centre.
Boulter’s comments and other player complaints frame the issue as recurring at specific courts, with the BBC saying the smell has been a persistent issue at the US Open and the Telegraph describing Court 17 as notorious among players.
With Sabalenka advancing after the interruption, the BBC said she will face either American Taylor Townsend or Russian 15th seed Diana Shnaider in the next round, while the Independent reported that she will next play the winner of 15th seed Diana Shnaider or Taylor Townsend.