Katie Boulter joins growing list of players bothered by cannabis smell: "I did smell it during my match”
WTASaturday, 29 August 2026 at 19:00
Katie Boulter has become the latest player to complain about the smell of marijuana around the US Open, saying the odor has already been noticeable on the practice courts and can become a distraction during matches. The British No. 1 arrives in New York ranked No. 60 and will begin her campaign against American wildcard Carol Lee.
The issue is not new at Flushing Meadows. The US Open venue sits next to Corona Park, where recreational cannabis is legal in New York, and players have repeatedly noticed the smell drifting towards the courts despite smoking being prohibited inside the tournament grounds.
Boulter knows first-hand how distracting it can be. The 30-year-old has previously encountered the smell during a match and believes it is something players do not need when trying to maintain concentration in a Grand Slam environment.
Her comments come as Boulter looks to improve on her previous best US Open run. She reached the third round in 2023 but was eliminated in the opening round last year, meaning she has no points to defend this time and has an opportunity to climb the rankings with a deep run.
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Boulter is far from the first player to complain
The smell of marijuana has become a recurring talking point at the US Open, with players repeatedly noting how it can drift onto the courts from nearby Corona Park. Boulter has now joined that list ahead of her first-round match against American wildcard Carol Lee.
“I’m not a huge fan of it,” Boulter 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.”
Katie Boulter will play the US Open main draw for 5th time.
The British player explained that the problem is not simply the unpleasantness of the smell, but the way it can interfere with a player's concentration. “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 want to. You don’t need distractions. So yeah, I wasn’t a huge fan of it.”
Boulter's first obstacle will be Lee, with a potentially much tougher test awaiting in the second round. Seventh seed Karolina Muchova begins against Austria's Sinja Kraus and could face Boulter if both players advance.
The marijuana smell, however, has become a recurring part of the US Open conversation, with several prominent players raising the issue over recent editions.
Ruud, Djokovic and Kyrgios have all noticed the smell
Casper Ruud was particularly critical in 2025, describing the smell as one of his biggest frustrations about playing in New York. “For me, this is the worst thing about New York. The smell is everywhere, even here on the courts. We have to accept it, but it’s not my favorite smell.”
The Norwegian also highlighted how close the source of the smell could be to players during matches. “It’s quite annoying to be playing, tired, and just meters away, someone is smoking marijuana.”
Novak Djokovic acknowledged the same problem days later, although the 24-time Grand Slam champion took a more resigned view of the situation. “You can definitely feel it, it’s not like you can’t — actually, you feel it more than anywhere else.”
Djokovic said the smell could be noticed from practice through to matches, adding that some players were more bothered by it than others.
The complaints date back even further. In 2022, Nick Kyrgios raised the issue during his US Open run, with the Australian particularly concerned because of his asthma. “It was f****** marijuana. Marijuana. It was smoke. Obviously I’m not going to complain about food smells, obviously not.”
Kyrgios added that the issue could be particularly problematic for athletes with respiratory conditions. “Obviously when athletes are moving side-to-side and when they have asthma already it’s probably not ideal.”
Jelena Ostapenko and Barbora Krejcikova have also previously complained about the smell, underlining that Boulter's experience is far from an isolated incident.
The recurring issue stems from the location of the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center next to Corona Park. Smoking is not permitted inside the tournament grounds, but officials cannot fully control what happens beyond the venue's boundaries.
For Boulter, the priority now is to block out that unusual New York distraction and focus on her own tournament. She has a chance to make progress in the draw, add valuable ranking points and potentially produce her best US Open result since reaching the third round in 2023.
Cristhián AvilaTennis Journalist
Cristhián Ávila is a tennis journalist based in Santiago, Chile, and has been part of the TennisUpToDate team since early 2023. He covers the ATP and WTA Tours as well as all four Grand Slams, producing breaking news, match reports, analysis, and regular liveblogs from major tournaments.
His reporting combines statistical analysis with clear explanation, helping readers understand tactical developments, player form, and broader storylines across the tour. Working fluently in both Spanish and English, Cristhián collaborates with an international editorial team and contributes to comprehensive global coverage. As part of his work, he has conducted interviews and media interactions with leading figures in the sport, including Caroline Wozniacki and John McEnroe.
In his journalism, Cristhián places strong emphasis on careful sourcing, editorial accuracy, and updating articles promptly when new, verified information becomes available. His coverage is grounded in research, context, and direct engagement with professional tennis.
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