FROM GRASS to grass – Britain’s tennis stars are bracing themselves for the distracting smell of weed as they go from Wimbledon to the US Open.
It is legal to smoke, vape or ingest cannabis for both recreational and medicinal purposes in New York State, provided you are 21 or older.
Marijuana use became legal in New York back in 2021 Credit: THE TIMES
Several US Open stars have complained about the smell around Flushing Meadows Credit: REUTERS
Otherwise known as marijuana, weed, pot or grass, it can only be bought at licensed dispensaries but is the second-most commonly used recreational drug after alcohol.
Last year, some players complained about the pungent, unmistakable aroma of joints that wafted over the US Open grounds.
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It is illegal to smoke on site at the New York Slam, which is staged at Flushing Meadows in the borough of Queens.
However, stars have often moaned about the smell on the outside courts, particularly Stadium 17, which is nearest to adjacent Corona Park.
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Katie Boulter is not a fan of those who smoke dodgy cigarettes, saying the smell sometimes “takes you out of the moment” while playing or practising.
The British No.1 – who takes on American wildcard Carol Young Suh Lee in round one – said: “Yeah, I have experienced it.
“You go down to the practice courts and down in the park courts, you do smell it a lot.
“I mean it’s not great. We’ll find out how the practice goes. If it goes well or not, I don’t know. We’ll see.
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People have been the drug around the grounds at Flushing Meadows Credit: REUTERS
Brit Katie Boulter isn’t a fan of the smell Credit: GETTY
“But I’m not a huge fan of it. I know a lot of players have complained on some of the specific courts.
“I played on the court in the corner over there. 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.
“You don’t need distractions. So yeah, I wasn’t a huge fan of it.”
“The smell of grass is not something that patrons at Wimbledon have to worry about – at SW19 it is more Cliff Richard, than Spliff Richard for example.
It is only the US Open where this is a major problem but it is more a societal one here in the United States than tennis specifically.
Harriet Dart – one of four British qualifiers to reach the first round – said: “I mean it’s New York.
“I mean I feel like everywhere you walk around, it’s everywhere, no? It is what it is. Same for everyone.”
Fran Jones – who will face Magda Linette from Poland after emerging through three rounds of qualifying – is not bothered by the situation and once cracked a joke about getting high off the fumes.
The Yorkshirewoman, who is based in Barcelona, said: “I did notice it last year.
Harriet Dart is unbothered by the smell of cannabis Credit: GETTY
US Open chiefs are working to stop people smoking the drug around Flushing Meadows Credit: REUTERS
“I made a joke about that, in my first round, I said to the guy: ‘Is this normal?’
“Because I was on court, the Stadium, and it’s next to the park. He’s like: ‘Yeah.’
“I was like: ‘Well, no wonder I’m playing pretty well…’
“This year, I was like: ‘Should I make the same joke?’ But no, I was like, lock-in, lock-in, lock-in.
“Today I was on (Court) 15, but last time it was 17. It’s the closest one to the park. That’s the place to be – so get over there
“Today was really bad. Yeah, I thought today was one of the worst. It doesn’t bother me. I live in Barcelona. It’s legal in groups, and you can smell it everywhere.”
The US Open has been approached for comment.
A USTA spokesperson said: “While we can’t control what takes place off the grounds of the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center, we continue to be vigilant as we maintain this.
“This includes enforcement by our security and guest services teams when they are made aware of any individual that may be smoking.
“Making them aware that although it may be legal in New York, that smoking is not permitted on parks property, including the tennis center.
“We constantly work with the NYPD and Parks Department, and we believe this has helped to decrease smoking near our fenceline.”
