Sabalenka halts US Open match due to cannabis smell

World number one Aryna Sabalenka's US Open third-round match against Kamilla Rakhimova was interrupted due to a strong smell of cannabis. The incident occurred during Sabalenka's second service game on Friday, as she was leading 3-0. She alerted the umpire, Eva Asderaki-Moore, stating, "Someone is smoking weed. Would you mind to… because it’s so strong." After the match, which Sabalenka won in straight sets, she expressed that while she does not object to people enjoying themselves, she prefers that smoking be kept away from the tennis courts. "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. The smell of cannabis has been a recurring issue at Flushing Meadows, with players previously noting it as a distraction. Although smoking is prohibited within the grounds, recreational cannabis use is legal for adults 21 and older in New York, leading to the possibility of smoke drifting from the surrounding Flushing Meadows-Corona Park into the tennis complex. Sabalenka noted that while she had encountered the smell before, it had never been as strong during a match. She attributed the intensity of the odor to the wind, which may have carried it into the stadium. "I just hope they are a bit more aware of that stuff," she added, laughing off further questions on the topic.