Yahoo
Nick Kyrgios’ US Open campaign has been largely uneventful so far, but a telltale scent wafting across the court in Flushing Meadows left the Aussie star scratching his head.
After a relatively straightforward win over fellow Australian star Thanasi Kokkinakis in the first round, Kyrgios’ attention turned to Frenchman Benjamin Bonzi.
After winning a first set tiebreak, Kyrgios was locked in a second set battle with Bonzi at 4-4 when he complained to the umpire about the smell of cannabis in the arena during a change of ends.
Commentators noted the 27-year-old’s complaint to the chair umpire, who suggested to Kyrgios that the smell may actually have been coming from the kitchens in the arena.
Kyrgios wasn’t buying it though.
Despite telling the umpire that the smell of food coming through was something to be expected, no action was taken with any member of the crowd – though the chair umpire did remind spectators that smoking was not permitted in the arena.
ESPN commentators noted in support of Kyrgios that their on-court camera crews had also communicated to them that a smell of marijuana could be picked up on court.
“You don’t want to remind people, not to do it?’ Kyrgios asked the umpire.
“It wasn’t the kitchen bro, it was marijuana. There’s smoke, obviously I’m not going to complain about food smell.
“When athletes are running side to side and have asthma already, it’s not a big deal, so…”
