British star Katie Boulter complains about CANNABIS smell at US Open

British tennis player Katie Boulter has voiced concerns over the presence of cannabis odor at the US Open, joining several other athletes who have raised similar issues in recent years. Boulter, ranked 60th in the world, is preparing to face Carol Suh Lee in her opening match on Sunday at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center in New York. She described the smell as a distraction during her pre-match routine. Boulter expressed her frustration during a press conference, stating that the scent of cannabis interferes with her concentration. “I’m not a huge fan of it,” she 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.” She emphasized that the smell disrupts the mental state required for competition. “It takes you out of the moment and you really don’t want to. You don’t need distractions.” The issue appears to be widespread among professional tennis players. Earlier this week, Fran Jones, another British player, recounted a similar experience. “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. He’s like, ‘yeah’. And I was like: ‘Well, no wonder I’m playing pretty well.’ This year I’ll be like ‘no, lock in, lock in!’” Harriet Dart, another British player, acknowledged the situation with a degree of resignation. “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.” Despite these complaints, the USTA maintains that smoking on the grounds of Flushing Meadows is prohibited. Organisers work alongside local police and the parks department to enforce this rule. A statement from the USTA reads: “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.” Other players have also spoken out about the issue. Nick Kyrgios recently complained that a fan triggered his asthma by smoking near him during a match. Meanwhile, Maria Sakkari, the Greek player, alerted an umpire mid-set about the presence of cannabis smoke. Last year, Novak Djokovic commented on the problem, noting that the smell is pervasive throughout the facility. “You can really smell the smell, it’s not like you can miss it,” he said. “Some people are more disturbed than others. I’m not a fan of the smell either, it stinks. But it’s allowed here and you have to accept it. You can feel it everywhere, from the training grounds to the courts where we play our matches. That’s how it is.” As the tournament progresses, the presence of cannabis odor remains a point of contention among players. While the USTA continues its efforts to manage the issue, the challenge persists due to the legality of cannabis use in New York. Players will likely continue to voice their concerns, hoping for clearer guidelines or stricter enforcement of existing rules. For now, they must navigate the challenges posed by the environment surrounding the tournament.