British players flag marijuana smell near US Open courts

British tennis players have raised concerns about the smell of marijuana reaching some outdoor courts at the US Open in New York. The Press Association reported that the odour has drifted from nearby Corona Park toward practice and match areas at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center, where smoking is not permitted on site.

British number one Katie Boulter said she had encountered the smell around the practice courts and park courts. She also said other players had complained about particular courts. Boulter described the odour as an unwanted distraction when players are trying to concentrate, adding that she had previously noticed it during a match.

Fran Jones, the British number three, recalled becoming aware of the same issue during her first-round match at the tournament in 2025. Jones said the stadium she was playing in was beside the park and indicated that she would make an effort to maintain her focus if she encountered the smell again this year.

Harriet Dart, who reached the main draw through qualifying alongside Jones, took a more accepting view of the conditions. She said the smell was widespread around New York and noted that every player competing on the affected courts faced the same circumstances. Marijuana is legal for adults in New York, although the tournament’s own no-smoking rule remains in place.

The United States Tennis Association said in a statement reported by the Press Association that it cannot control activity taking place outside the grounds of the Billie Jean King National Tennis Center. The governing body added that it continues to remain vigilant in maintaining conditions within the venue.

The issue centres on the venue’s proximity to Corona Park rather than permitted smoking inside the US Open complex. For Boulter, the concern is competitive focus: an external odour can interrupt the concentration required during practice or match play. The players’ accounts also show differing reactions, from Boulter’s objection to Dart’s view that the conditions apply equally to the field.