Katie Boulter says cannabis smell at US Open is distracting
BBC Sport journalist Flora Snelson reports on British number one Katie Boulter's complaint about the smell of cannabis at the US Open.
On Sunday, the final major of the season begins at Flushing Meadows in New York, where cannabis is legal for adults aged 21 and over. Though smoking is not permitted on site, the smell of cannabis wafts on to court from nearby Corona Park.
Boulter, preparing to face Carol Young Suh Lee in the first round, states that cannabis can be smelt "a lot" on the practice courts, noting her dissatisfaction:
"I'm not a huge fan of it. [...] 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 want to."
The smell of cannabis has been a recurring issue at the US Open, with players like Novak Djokovic, Alexander Zverev, Nick Kyrgios, Maria Sakkari, Fran Jones, and Harriet Dart all noting its presence in previous years.
The United States Tennis Association (USTA) acknowledges the issue, stating they work with local authorities to reduce smoking near the venue, but emphasizes they cannot control off-site activities.