Several top professional tennis players at the US Open in New York have voiced complaints regarding the noticeable smell of marijuana permeating the courts during matches. The aroma is attributed to its legality for adults in New York and its presence in areas surrounding the tournament grounds, though smoking is prohibited on-site.
British number one Katie Boulter stated that the smell is particularly prevalent on practice courts and some outer courts. "I'm not a huge fan of it," Boulter told reporters. "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. It's something that I wouldn't like to smell in the middle of my match. I'm trying to focus and then obviously, it takes you out of the moment and you really don't want to. You don't need distractions."
Fran Jones recalled a similar experience from the previous year, joking about the scent and its potential impact on her performance. "Last year I made a joke about that, in my first round, and I said to the guy, 'is this normal?'. Because I was on the stadium, and it's next to the park."
In 2023, player Alexander Zverev made headlines when he commented on the strong smell on Court 17, likening it to "Snoop Dogg's living room." Harriet Dart acknowledged the scent, noting, "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 United States Tennis Association (USTA) issued a statement addressing the issue. "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 facility as a smoke-free environment," the statement read. Marijuana was legalized for adult recreational use in New York in March 2021. While on-site consumption is banned, the proximity of public spaces where it is permitted has led to the aroma occasionally reaching the tournament's playing areas.