Sports
oi-Gaurav Sharma
Aryna Sabalenka’s US Open campaign briefly took an unexpected turn when the world No. 1 stopped play to complain about a strong cannabis smell inside Louis Armstrong Stadium.
Sabalenka was already in control of her third-round clash against Uzbekistan’s Kamilla Rakhimova, racing into a 3-0 advantage, when she approached chair umpire Eva Asderaki-Moore during her second service game.
World No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka briefly halted her US Open third-round match to complain about a strong cannabis odor inside Louis Armstrong Stadium, later winning against Kamilla Rakhimova and requesting spectators refrain from smoking near the courts.
The Belarusian player told the umpire that the smell of cannabis was particularly strong around the court and asked officials to take action.
“Someone is smoking weed,” Sabalenka told the chair umpire, asking whether something could be done because the smell was “so strong.”
The brief interruption did not derail the defending champion. Sabalenka quickly returned her attention to the match and eventually completed a straight-sets victory over Rakhimova.
Sabalenka: ‘Please don’t do it around the tennis courts’
Speaking after the match, Sabalenka explained that she was not objecting to people enjoying themselves generally. Her frustration was specifically about the smell reaching the playing area while she was trying to compete.
Aryna Sabalenka had to speak to the umpire mid-match at the U.S. Open due to someone smoking weed:
“Someone is smoking weed. Do you mind? Because it’s so strong.”
pic.twitter.com/Fx2JnzZ6QN— The Tennis Letter (@TheTennisLetter) September 4, 2026
She said spectators could relax and do what they wanted, but asked them not to smoke cannabis close to the tennis courts because the odour can be difficult to deal with during a match.
Sabalenka also acknowledged that she could not be certain where the smell originated. With wind moving through the venue, she suggested it may have drifted into the stadium from outside rather than coming directly from spectators inside.
Cannabis smell has surfaced at the US Open before
The incident has once again drawn attention to an issue that has occasionally surfaced at the US Open.
The tournament is held at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center beside Flushing Meadows-Corona Park. Recreational cannabis is legal for adults in New York, although smoking is prohibited within the US Open grounds.
That distinction can make the problem difficult for organisers to control. Even when nobody is openly smoking inside the tournament venue, odours from surrounding areas can potentially travel with the wind into stadiums and other sections of the complex.
For professional players, however, an unexpected smell can become a significant distraction. Tennis demands intense concentration, controlled breathing and consistent routines, meaning strong odours can interfere with a player’s focus even if they do not ultimately affect the result.
Sabalenka keeps title defence alive
Despite the unusual interruption, Sabalenka remained firmly in command of the contest.
The world No. 1 entered the tournament as defending champion and one of the leading contenders for another title in New York. Her powerful serve and aggressive baseline game have made her a particularly formidable opponent on the hard courts.
Rakhimova was unable to capitalise on the brief disruption as Sabalenka regained her rhythm and closed out the match.
