Alexander Zverev adds to US Open theory making tennis players uncomfortable
World No. 12 Alexander Zverev is the second player in two days to complain that Court 17 at the US Open "smells like weed".
Zverev, 26, took to the hard courts on Tuesday for his first-round match against Australia's Aleksandar Vukic. The World No. 14 from Germany came through the opening matchup in straight sets, 6-4, 6-4, 6-4, but afterwards added his voice to the growing criticism of the venue.
“Court 17 definitely smells like Snoop Dogg ’s living room,” he said afterwards. “Oh my God, it’s everywhere. The whole court smells like weed.”
These comments came a day after World No. 8 Maria Sakkari spoke to the chair umpire about it during her first-round match. “The smell, oh my gosh. I think it’s from the park,” she said, alluding to Corona Park, which sits adjacent to the court.
After raising those complaints while 4-1 up during the first set of her opening game, the day went from bad to worse for Greece's 2021 US Open semifinalist. That early lead went up in smoke, and Sakkari lost 6-4, 6-4 in straight sets to Spain's Rebeka Masarova.
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Speaking to reporters afterwards, she again addressed the distinct scent, which she did clarify "was weed". “Sometimes you smell food, sometimes you smell cigarettes, sometimes you smell weed.
"I mean, it’s something we cannot control, because we’re in an open space. There’s a park behind. People can do whatever they want.”
The infamous Court 17 and its close proximity to Corona Park (Getty Images)As a result, she was not willing to use it as an excuse for a third straight early Grand Slam exit. "You don't really think about it, because all you care is just to win the match," Sakkari said, admitting she was already ready after noticing it on Sunday while practising on Court 17.
"I smelled it, but that was it. Like, it wasn't something that I paid attention to." While it was enough for her to bring to the umpire's attention, she is far from the first to do so.
Nick Kyrgios, 12 months ago, came to the chair umpire with the same complaint while playing at the Louis Armstrong Stadium. “People don’t know [it, but] I’m a heavy asthmatic,” the Australian, who withdrew from this year's tournament with a wrist injury, said in 2022.
“When I’m running side to side, I’m struggling to breathe, [so it is] probably not something I want to be breathing in between points.” Recreational use of cannabis has been legal in New York since 2021.
Wednesday will see a quartet of home favourites take to Court 17. Chris Eubanks headlines the day's play on the fourth show court with a second-round match against France's Benjamin Bonzi.
World No. 14 Tommy Paul will also be in action, as are Taylor Townsend and the comeback queen Jennifer Brady. Whether any add their names to the growing list of complaints about the smell remains to be seen.
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