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Ruud Says Cannabis Odor Pervades US Open Courts

Players link the smell to public use in nearby Corona Park enabled by New York's legalization.

Overview

  • Casper Ruud said the odor is present throughout Flushing Meadows, including on match and practice courts.
  • He described it as unpleasant to compete while inhaling the scent of hashish and said little can be done unless the law changes.
  • Reports attribute the smell to smoke drifting from Corona Park, which sits next to the US Open grounds.
  • New York legalized recreational cannabis in 2021, allowing public consumption where tobacco is permitted, a context cited for persistent odors near the event.
  • Players including Maria Sakkari, Alexander Zverev and Rebeka Masarova raised similar complaints in past years, and no new tournament policies were reported.