World No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka paused her U.S. Open match due to a strong cannabis odor, requesting it be kept away from the courts. She secured a straight-sets victory while officials investigated the source of the smell.
U.S. Open Match Interrupted by Cannabis Smell
NEW YORK, Sept 4 — World No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka briefly halted her U.S. Open third-round match on Friday to alert officials to a strong smell of cannabis drifting onto the Louis Armstrong Stadium court, disrupting play during her straight-sets victory over Kamilla Rakhimova.
Sabalenka, the two-time defending champion, secured a 6-3, 6-4 win to extend her 16-match winning streak at the tournament and advance to the fourth round. The interruption occurred in the second set while she was serving at 30-0, prompting her to approach chair umpire Eva Asderaki-Moore with the complaint.
Sabalenka's Statement to the Umpire
Sabalenka told Asderaki-Moore: “Someone is smoking weed. Would you mind to... because it’s so strong.” Tournament staff immediately contacted officials, who moved into the stands to locate the source of the odor. Play resumed shortly after, with Sabalenka completing the victory without further disruption.
Sabalenka's Post-Match Remarks
Speaking to reporters after the match, Sabalenka clarified that she was not objecting to recreational cannabis use but requested that smoking be kept away from the courts. “I was like, ‘Guys, you can do whatever, you can smoke whatever, you can relax as much as you can, but please not do it around the tennis courts,’” she said. “It’s a bit tricky to handle that smell while you’re trying to compete at your best.”
Sabalenka added that the wind appeared to carry the odor into the stadium, though she could not confirm whether the source was from inside or outside the venue. “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 said. “I just hope they are a bit more aware of that stuff.”
Cannabis Odor: A Recurring Issue at the US Open
The smell of cannabis has become a familiar but unwelcome feature at the Billie Jean King National Tennis Center, which is adjacent to Flushing Meadows-Corona Park, where recreational cannabis use is legal for adults over 21 in New York. While smoking is prohibited inside the tournament grounds, smoke from the surrounding park has drifted into the complex, affecting players and spectators alike.
British player Katie Boulter previously noted the issue, stating: “I have experienced it. You got down to the practice courts and down in the park courts, you do smell it a lot. I’m not a huge fan of it. I know a lot of players have complained on specific courts.” The venue has been referred to in some media as “hash court” due to the persistent odor on certain courts.
Sabalenka's Path Forward
Sabalenka, who is seeking to become the first woman since Serena Williams (2012-2014) to win three consecutive U.S. Open titles, will next face either American Taylor Townsend or Diana Shnaider in the fourth round. The match is a rematch of their French Open quarter-final, which Sabalenka lost earlier this year.