A recurring issue at Flushing Meadows
British tennis star Katie Boulter has become the latest athlete to voice concerns regarding the pervasive smell of cannabis during preparations for the US Open. As the tournament gets underway in New York—a state where cannabis is legal for adults aged 21 and over—players are finding the ambient odour a distraction during high-stakes matches.
"I'm not a huge fan of it," Boulter stated. "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."
Balancing public use and professional sport
Boulter is not alone in her assessment. Previous competitors, including Novak Djokovic, Nick Kyrgios, and Maria Sakkari, have all noted the issue in recent years. Djokovic previously remarked: "You can really smell the smell... it’s allowed here and you have to accept it."
While the United States Tennis Association (USTA) maintains a strict no-smoking policy within the grounds of the Billie Jean King National Tennis Center, they acknowledge the difficulty of controlling odours originating from the surrounding public park areas.
As legalisation continues to spread across the US, the intersection of public consumption rights and professional sporting environments remains a complex challenge for event organisers. While some players find the scent a distraction, others, like Harriet Dart, acknowledge the reality of the local environment: "It's New York. I feel like everywhere you walk around, it's everywhere."
Source: The Mirror
