Aryna Sabalenka Briefly Halts US Open Match After Catching Strong Smell of Cannabis

World number one Aryna Sabalenka experienced an unusual interruption during her third-round match at the US Open, temporarily stopping play to inform the umpire about a strong smell of cannabis drifting across the Louis Armstrong Stadium court.

Sabalenka had started quickly to take a 3-0 lead before ultimately securing a straight-sets victory against Kamilla Rakhimova. She raised the issue during her second service game, addressing umpire Eva Asderaki-Moore while holding a 30-0 lead.

“Someone is smoking weed,” top seed Sabalenka said. “Would you mind to... because it’s so strong.”

Speaking to reporters afterward, Sabalenka clarified that she had no issue with people enjoying themselves, but requested that the smoking be kept away from the competition areas. “I was like, Guys, you can do whatever, you can smoke whatever, you can relax as much as you can, but please to not do it around the tennis courts,” she said with a smile. “It’s a bit tricky to handle that smell while you’re trying to compete at your best.”

The aroma of cannabis has become a familiar, if unwelcome, occurrence at Flushing Meadows, with various players voicing complaints about the distraction in past tournaments. Although smoking is prohibited inside the grounds, recreational cannabis is legal for adults aged 21 and older in New York, allowing smoke from the surrounding Flushing Meadows-Corona Park to occasionally drift into the tennis complex.

Sabalenka noted that while she had detected cannabis previously during the tournament, it had never been this potent during a match, with the day's wind likely carrying the odor directly into the stadium.