US Open star speaks up about strange problem at the tournament in official statement
British tennis player Katie Boulter has shared a surprising distraction she’s been dealing with on court at the US Open – and it’s not what you’d expect.
The 2026 US Open singles start on Sunday, August 30. Carlos Alcaraz will be back after a wrist injury, while world No. 1 Jannik Sinner is out with a knee problem. Novak Djokovic is aiming for his 25th major win. Rising star Alex Eala will bring lots of fans to New York, and Aryna Sabalenka hopes to get back to winning.
Just a day before the tournament begins, Boulter spoke out about the smell of cannabis, which is legal for adults 21 and over in New York. She says it’s been a real distraction during practice and matches.
“I have noticed it,” she said. “When you go to the practice courts or courts near the park, you can smell it quite a lot. It’s not great. We’ll see how practice goes, but it’s definitely distracting. I’m not a fan of it. Some players have complained about certain courts. I even smelled it during a match, and it takes you out of the moment. When you’re trying to focus, distractions like that aren’t welcome.”
In the first round, Boulter will play against American wild card Carol Young Suh Lee.
This isn’t the first time players have raised this issue. In 2022, Nick Kyrgios said a fan smoking near the court triggered his asthma, causing the umpire to ask the fan to stop. Other British players like Fran Jones and Harriet Dart have also talked about it. Fran joked last year, asking if the smell was normal because the courts are near the park.
The U.S. Tennis Association responded by saying they can’t control what happens off the tennis center grounds but will keep a close watch.