‘Worst thing about New York’: Casper Ruud fumes over cannabis smell at US Open 2025

Casper Ruud has started his men’s singles campaign at the US Open 2025 with a win against Sebastian Ofner at Louis Armstrong Stadium on Tuesday, August 26. Before the match, the Norwegian star complained about the strong smell of cannabis at the Flushing Meadows courts and in New York overall.

Ruud, who also played mixed doubles with world No.1 Iga Swiatek last week, said that the cannabis smell was bothering him a lot. The 26-year-old admitted it is annoying to compete in such an environment where the smell of weed is so strong. But he said that everything else there was fine.

“I come from a place that is very, very different from New York and grew up closer to the sea and in quiet surroundings. I’m not a big fan of the smell of weed when you walk around. No, but seriously, I’m not even joking here, because on every corner, every street, you smell it almost everywhere you go. This is not something sportsmen do. I don’t love the weed smell, that’s the thing I can say. But everything else here is pretty cool, yeah,” Ruud told the media ahead of his singles first-round contest.

Meanwhile, Ruud made a strong start to his US Open 2025 campaign with a straight-sets win over Austria’s Sebastian Ofner. He looked in control from the beginning as he won 6-1, 6-2, 7-6(5). Ruud had no trouble in the first two sets and, despite a tighter third set that went to a tiebreak, he kept his focus to seal the match. This was his third win in three matches against Ofner.

“It was difficult for me to stay in the rallies, especially on his serves. The tiebreak was really close, a bit up and down, but I’m really happy to get it in the end. It was a great win for me in front of a great crowd as always,” Ruud said after the match.

Ruud is scheduled to face Raphael Collignon in the second round of the men’s singles event at the US Open on Wednesday, August 27.