Tennis superstar Casper Ruud has had some strong success at the U.S. Open in previous years, reaching the final of the Grand Slam tournament back in 2022. However, that doesn’t mean he loves everything about the tournament – or the city of New York, for that matter.
In the days leading up to the tournament, Ruud opened up a little bit about what he thinks is the “worst thing about New York,” and it was not the traffic, the crowds, or the loudness that bothered the tennis star.
Instead, Ruud has been bothered by one particular smell that he claims even engulfs the courts at the Billy Jean King National Tennis Center.
Casper Ruud Has a History at the U.S. Open
Back in 2022, the Norwegian tennis star had a magical run at the Grand Slam in New York City, making it all the way to the championship match before ultimately falling to Carlos Alcaraz in four sets.
That was by far Ruud’s best performance on a hard court at a Grand Slam as it’s the only time he has ever reached a final on a hard court at a Grand Slam. Ruud typically thrives on clay and has reached the final of the French Open in 2022 and 2023, losing both times.
Ruud Does Not Love Marijuana Smell
Ruud may have had success in New York in the past, but that does not mean he necessarily likes playing there. In the days leading up to the U.S. Open this year, Ruud expressed his frustration at having to play through the smell of marijuana from the crowd.
“It’s complicated to be on the court with people smoking joints. Having to inhale that smell of marijuana when we’re tired is not fun at all,” Ruud told Norwegian media. “The intensity of the odor is very strong at times.”
Ruud went on to call it the “worst thing about New York.”
“The smell is everywhere, even here on the courts,” Ruud said, via Tennis Up to Date. “We have to accept it, but it’s not my favorite smell. It’s quite annoying to be playing, tired, and just meters away, someone is smoking marijuana. We can’t do anything about it unless the law is reversed, but I have strong doubts that will happen.”
Marijuana is Not Permitted at the U.S. Open
Despite Ruud’s claims that the players “can’t do anything about it,” it’s worth noting that smoking marijuana is actually not permitted inside the Billy Jean King National Tennis Center.
While New York legalized marijuana backin 2021, the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center is a smoke-free facility, according to the U.S. Open website. So the next time Ruud is bothered by the smoke, he could very reasonably put a stop to it by informing the chair umpire.
