Former US Open finalist Casper Ruud is joining the long list of players frustrated with the smell of marijuana at the US Open.
In recent years, players like Nick Kyrgios, Alexander Zverev, and Maria Sakkari have all noted the lingering smell in New York.
Now, as Ruud looks to make another deep run in Flushing Meadows, the world No. 12 is voicing his frustration:
While speaking with reporters this week, Ruud explained:
“I come from a place which is very, very different than New York, and grew up closer to the sea and quiet. I’m not a big fan of the smell of weed when you walk around. Seriously, I’m not even joking here. Every corner of every street, you smell it almost anywhere you go.
“This is not something sportsmen do. … I don’t love the weed smell, that’s the thing I can say. Everything else is pretty cool.”
Ruud Continues to Express Frustration Over New York’s Marijuana Smell
Monday’s comments from Ruud wouldn’t be the only time this week that the former top-10 player spoke out against the weed smell seemingly plaguing the US Open.
During an interview with DR (The Danish Broadcasting Company), transcribed by Norwegian outlet NRK.no, Ruud echoed a similar sentiment.
As he explained, players can’t escape the smell, regardless of whether they’re walking around the city, or at the US Open practice facility.
“That’s the biggest downside of New York, that the smell is everywhere. Even here at the facility. You just have to accept it, but it’s not your favorite smell.
“I think it’s annoying if you’re on the field and someone smokes a joint. It’s not fun for the players to be tired and at the same time have to inhale the smell of hash. We can’t do anything about it unless the law is changed back, but I doubt that will happen.”
Given that marijuana has been legalized for recreational use in New York since 2021, it seems unlikely that the state re-criminalizes the drug, which remains illegal under US federal law.
Looking at Previous Examples of Tennis Players Complaining About Marijuana at US Open
As previously mentioned, Casper Ruud is far from the first player to complain about the smell of marijuana at the US Open.
In 2023, while playing on Stadium 17, which, despite its name, is the fourth-largest court at Flushing Meadows, both Maria Sakkari and Alexander Zverev noticed the smell of marijuana.
Sakkari made mention of the scent during her first-round match, theorizing that it was coming from a neighboring park. Zverev then notably compared Stadium 17 to rapper Snoop Dogg’s living room after his match the following day.
“Court 17 definitely smells like Snoop Dogg’s living room. Oh my God, it’s everywhere. The whole court smells like weed.”
As US Open spokesman Chris Widmaier stated at the time, the tournament found no evidence of people smoking in the stadium, however, much like Sakkari theorized, he believed the smell may have wafted in from the public park adjacent to Stadium 17.
Despite that, it sounds like year after year players are both surprised and frustrated by what internet users have described as the “unofficial scent of New York.”
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