US Open Players Grapple with Unwanted Distraction: The Lingering Smell of Cannabis

As the world’s elite tennis stars descend upon Flushing Meadows for the 2026 US Open, the focus is shifting from baseline rallies to an unexpected atmospheric hurdle: the pervasive scent of marijuana. For many competitors, the smell—which drifts over from the adjacent Corona Park—has become more than just a local quirk; it is a genuine distraction that threatens their focus during the year’s final Grand Slam.

A Growing Concern for Athletes

While recreational cannabis is legal for adults in New York, its presence around the perimeter of the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center has raised eyebrows among the tour’s top talent. British No. 1 Katie Boulter has been among the most vocal critics, noting that the odor is particularly noticeable on the practice courts and some of the outer match courts.

“I have experienced it. You go down to the practice courts and the park courts, you do smell it a lot,” Boulter said. “It takes you out of the moment, and you really don’t want that. You don’t need distractions.”

For others, the issue has become a familiar, if frustrating, recurring theme. Fran Jones, who successfully navigated the qualifying rounds to reach the main draw, recalled a humorous but telling interaction during last year’s event. “Last year, I made a joke about that in my first round… I asked the umpire, ‘Is this normal?'” Jones admitted. “This year, I’ll just have to tell myself to ‘lock in.'”

However, not all players are equally perturbed. Harriet Dart, another British contender, took a pragmatic, “Big City” view of the situation. “It’s New York. I feel like it’s everywhere you walk around, no? It is what it is. It’s the same for everyone.”

A Recurring Tournament Issue

The presence of marijuana smoke is not a new storyline for the US Open. In 2022, Nick Kyrgios famously complained that a spectator’s smoking was triggering his asthma, while Greek star Maria Sakkari brought the issue to the attention of an umpire during a match last year. High-profile names including Novak Djokovic and Alexander Zverev have also noted the scent in previous editions of the tournament.

The United States Tennis Association (USTA) maintains that while they cannot police activities occurring outside their jurisdiction in the neighboring public park, they are working closely with local law enforcement and the parks department to mitigate the issue. “While we can’t control what takes place off the grounds… we continue to be vigilant,” the organization stated.

High Stakes at Flushing Meadows

Despite the aromatic distraction, the upcoming tournament promises to be one of the most compelling in recent memory. Novak Djokovic arrives in New York with his eyes set on a record 25th Grand Slam title, while Carlos Alcaraz makes a highly anticipated return to individual competition following a wrist injury.

As the bracket plays out, players like Boulter, Jones, and Dart will have to navigate both their opponents and the unique atmosphere of the New York crowds. Whether the USTA can effectively clear the air remains to be seen, but for now, the players are focused on keeping their eyes on the ball—even when their sense of smell suggests otherwise.