Cannabis smell reported across US Open grounds

The US Open at Flushing Meadows has been troubled by cannabis smoke drifting from Corona Park onto the courts, with players reporting distracting fumes. British players Katie Boulter and Fran Jones described the smell as taking them out of the moment and, in Jones’s words, even joking about hallucinating during matches. The issue has persisted for years, notably around Court 17, where the proximity to the park makes enforcement difficult despite smoking being restricted on site. Senior players like Novak Djokovic and Alexander Zverev have previously commented on the odor, acknowledging it as a nuisance even if tolerated in the venue’s environment. The ongoing distraction comes as the US Open remains a premier, high-stakes event, though its Queens location complicates smoke-control efforts. The coverage draws from accounts in The Guardian, The Mirror, Yahoo Malaysia, and The Telegraph.