Players at the US Open have raised concerns about the persistent smell of marijuana, particularly around Court 17, which has earned the nickname ‘hash court’.
The court, situated below ground level and near Flushing Meadows Corona Park, is susceptible to the aroma drifting from the park, especially since New York legalized recreational marijuana in 2021. This issue has been noted by players for years, with some describing it as a significant distraction.
British player Katie Boulter stated that she has experienced the smell on Court 17 during matches and finds it unwelcome. "I’m not a huge fan of it," Boulter said. "I know a lot of players have complained on specific courts. I’ve played on (Court 17) 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."
Francesca Jones described the smell during her qualifying match on Friday as "one of the worst." She recalled a previous year where she joked about the smell, but this year focused on staying locked in. Jones, who is based in Barcelona where marijuana is legal, added that the scent can be a distraction, but she tries to