World number one Aryna Sabalenka experienced an unusual interruption during her third-round match at the US Open, pausing play to inform the chair umpire about a powerful smell of cannabis drifting across the Louis Armstrong Stadium court. The top-seeded player made a fast start against Uzbekistan’s Kamilla Rakhimova, going 3-0 ahead before raising the issue during her second service game while leading 30-0.
Aryna Sabalenka Halts US Open Match Over Strong Cannabis Odor
Approaching chair umpire Eva Asderaki-Moore with a smile, Sabalenka pointed out the disruption. Someone is smoking weed,
Sabalenka told the umpire, according to Nine.com.au. Would you mind to… because it’s so strong.
Match Progression and Tournament Context
Despite the aromatic distraction, the 28-year-old Belarusian maintained her composure to secure a 6-3, 6-4 victory over Rakhimova, extending her run without dropping a set in New York. Her performance was anchored by stellar serving, including 10 aces and zero break points faced against Rakhimova. The two-time defending champion arrived at the tournament seeking to rebuild her form after a challenging period following her back-to-back titles at Indian Wells and Miami in March.
Sabalenka holds a No. 1 ranking that she has maintained for 97 weeks. However, that status remains under pressure; she will lose the top spot unless she captures her third US Open title in a row and world No. 2 Elena Rybakina is defeated before the semi-finals. Having advanced to the round of 16, Sabalenka is scheduled to face home favorite Taylor Townsend in the next round.
Cannabis Regulations and Environmental Factors at Flushing Meadows
The presence of cannabis odors has become a familiar, though unwelcome, talking point for players at Flushing Meadows in recent years, with competitors such as Nick Kyrgios and Maria Sakkari having previously complained about similar distractions. Although smoking is strictly prohibited inside the tournament grounds, recreational cannabis is legal for adults aged 21 and older across the state of New York.
Tournament officials and players noted that smoke frequently drifts into the tennis complex and onto the courts from the surrounding Flushing Meadows-Corona Park. Sabalenka remarked that while she had detected the scent in prior instances during the tournament, it had never been as potent during an active match. She attributed the intensity partly to a stiff breeze blowing across the precinct, which carried the odor directly into the stadium.
Player Reactions and Press Conference Fallout
Speaking to reporters after the match, Sabalenka clarified that she held no personal objections to recreational habits, but drew a line at the proximity to competition areas. I was like, guys, you can do whatever, you can smoke whatever, you can relax as much as you can, but please do not do it around the tennis courts,
she told the press. It’s a bit tricky to handle that smell while you’re trying to compete at your best.
When asked whether the odor originated from a spectator inside the stands or outside the stadium perimeter, Sabalenka admitted she was unsure due to the shifting wind. I don’t know if it was coming from the crowd or was from the outside because the wind blows it into the stadium,
she stated, adding, I just hope they are a bit more aware of that stuff.
No spectators were identified or found smoking inside Louis Armstrong Stadium during the incident.
The post-match media session later shifted into a lighter tone as questioning returned to the topic, prompting laughter from the top seed. Come on, guys,
Sabalenka said. I think there is nothing else to say about weed. I’m just asking people not to smoke it next to the tennis court.
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