Cannabis smell at US Open is distracting — Boulter

British number one Katie Boulter has complained that the smell of cannabis around the US Open is distracting players as the final Grand Slam of the year prepares to begin at Flushing Meadows on Sunday.

Boulter, ranked 60th in the world, said the smell is noticeable on the practice courts and has previously affected her during matches.

“I’m not a huge fan of it,” Boulter said. “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.”

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She added that the smell can interrupt a player’s concentration during an important match.

“You don’t need distractions. So yeah, I wasn’t a huge fan of it,” she said.

Cannabis is legal for adults aged 21 and over in New York, but smoking is not permitted inside the US Open venue. However, the smell can drift into the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center from nearby Corona Park.

The issue has affected other players in previous years. Novak Djokovic and Alexander Zverev have both complained about the smell, while Australian Nick Kyrgios raised concerns in 2022 after saying a spectator smoking courtside was triggering his asthma.

In 2023, Greece’s Maria Sakkari also pointed out the smell to an umpire during a match, although she later stressed that it was not an excuse for her defeat.

The United States Tennis Association, which organises the tournament, said it works with local police and the parks department to reduce smoking around the venue.

“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,” the USTA said.

Boulter is preparing to face American wildcard Carol Young Suh Lee in the first round on Sunday as she begins her campaign at the season’s final Grand Slam.

Other British players have also noticed the smell. Fran Jones, who qualified for the tournament, recalled experiencing it during her first-round match last year.

“Because I was on the stadium, and it’s next to the park,” Jones said. “He’s like, ‘Yeah.’ And I was like: ‘Well, no wonder I’m playing pretty well.’”

Harriet Dart, who also qualified, took a more relaxed view of the situation, saying: “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.”

The 2026 US Open main draw begins on Sunday, with players hoping to avoid distractions as they compete for the final Grand Slam title of the season.