British tennis players competing at the US Open have voiced frustration over the persistent aroma of marijuana wafting onto the tournament's outdoor practice courts from the adjacent Corona Park in Queens. While recreational cannabis is legal for adults in New York, smoking remains prohibited within the Billie Jean King National Tennis Center, yet the odor continues to affect competitors during matches and training sessions.
Katie Boulter, Britain's top-ranked player, described encountering the smell regularly on the practice courts and acknowledged its impact on her concentration.
"Yeah, I have experienced it. You go down to the practice courts and down in the park courts, you do smell it a lot. But, yeah, 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 match. It's something that I wouldn't like to smell in the middle of my match. I'm trying to focus and then obviously, it takes you out of the moment and you really don't need distractions."
The issue has extended beyond British competitors. According to reports from international tennis coverage, Novak Djokovic also raised concerns about the marijuana smell at the 2026 US Open, describing it as a "stench" that he could feel "more than anywhere else." The problem has become sufficiently widespread that sports media outlets have begun discussing it as a broader tournament distraction rather than an isolated complaint.
Which courts are most affected?
Court 17 has emerged as particularly notorious among players for the intensity of the odor. The court's proximity to Flushing Meadows Corona Park makes it especially susceptible to smoke drifting from outside the venue. The USTA previously stated there was "no evidence" of smoking occurring inside the facility after reviewing footage from Court 17, indicating that the smell originates entirely from beyond the tournament grounds.
How are players responding?
Fran Jones, Britain's third-ranked player, recalled her experience from the previous year with a lighter perspective.
"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: 'Well, no wonder I'm playing pretty well'. This year I'll be like: 'No, lock in, lock in!'"
Harriet Dart, who advanced through qualifying alongside Jones, adopted a pragmatic stance toward the recurring issue.
"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."
What is the USTA doing about it?
The USTA acknowledged the situation in a statement, noting that while it cannot regulate activity outside its venue boundaries, it maintains vigilance in managing the grounds. According to recent reporting, the USTA works collaboratively with the New York Police Department and the Parks Department, and officials believe this cooperation has contributed to reducing smoking activity near the fence line separating the tournament grounds from Corona Park.
Is this a new problem?
The marijuana smell at the US Open represents a recurring nuisance rather than a novel occurrence. The issue has surfaced during multiple previous tournament seasons, with players including Maria Sakkari among the first to raise it publicly. New York legalized recreational marijuana in 2021, which has contributed to the prevalence of cannabis use in public spaces throughout the city, including areas adjacent to the tennis center. The combination of the venue's open-air design and its location next to a public park has made it structurally vulnerable to this particular distraction.
Key Facts
- Marijuana is legal for recreational use by adults in New York, but smoking is prohibited within the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center
- Court 17, positioned near Corona Park, has become especially notorious for the odor among competing players
- Multiple international competitors, including Novak Djokovic and British players, have publicly complained about the smell affecting their concentration
- The USTA works with the NYPD and Parks Department to manage the issue, though the source of the smoke originates outside tournament grounds
- The problem has persisted across multiple US Open tournaments, making it a structural challenge rather than an isolated incident
