US Open 2026 Takes A Strange Turn As Players Complain Of Marijuana Smell During Matches
A stench of cannabis is causing many a tennis player distraction as they gear up for the main draw of the US Open 2026 in New York. The final Grand Slam of the season is held in New York where cannabis is legal for adults above the age of 21. "I'm not a huge fan of it. 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…
Players at the upcoming 2026 US Open in New York are reporting a lingering odor of marijuana while competing on the courts. This issue has caused distraction during matches and practice sessions. The US Open, the final Grand Slam of the season, takes place in a city where cannabis is legal for adults over 21. Several British players have voiced their concerns about the smell wafting over Flushing Meadows from nearby Corona Park.
Katie Boulter, the UK's top-ranked player, mentioned that she cannot focus when she detects the odor during her matches. Other British players, including Fran Jones and Harriet Dart, have also spoken about the issue. Jones recounted smelling cannabis in her first-round match last year and joking about it with a tournament official.
The United States Tennis Association (USTA), which organizes the event, stated that they cannot control activities outside the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center. However, they remain vigilant about the situation. This is not the first time players have expressed dissatisfaction with cannabis smoke at the US Open; other players, such as Casper Ruud, Nick Kyrgios, and Maria Sakkari, have previously complained about similar issues.
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