Aryna Sabalenka Explains US Open Match Halt Over Weed Smell: ‘Don’t Do It Around Courts’

Aryna Sabalenka’s third-round match at the US Open was briefly interrupted on Friday after the world No. 1 complained to the chair umpire about a strong smell of cannabis inside Louis Armstrong Stadium.

The unusual incident occurred during Sabalenka’s second service game against Uzbekistan’s Kamilla Rakhimova. After racing to a 3-0 lead, the defending champion paused play and asked chair umpire Eva Asderaki-Moore to address the smell.

“Someone is smoking weed,” Sabalenka said while leading 30-0. “Would you mind doing so, because it’s so strong?”

After the match, Sabalenka clarified that she was not objecting to spectators enjoying themselves, but was concerned that the strong odour could affect players during competition.

“You can do whatever, you can smoke whatever, you can relax as much as you can, but please don’t do it around the tennis courts,” Sabalenka said.

“It’s a bit tricky to handle that smell while you’re trying to compete at your best,” she added.

The smell of cannabis has previously been reported by players at Flushing Meadows and has occasionally become a distraction during the tournament. Smoking is prohibited within the US Open grounds, although recreational cannabis is legal for adults aged 21 and over in New York.

Sabalenka Wonders Where the Smell Came From

Sabalenka suggested that the wind may have carried the odour into the stadium from outside the tennis complex or from the surrounding Flushing Meadows-Corona Park.

“It was a bit windy. 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. Come on, guys. I don’t think there is anything else to say about weed. I’m just asking people not to smoke it next to the tennis court,” she added.

The interruption was brief, and Sabalenka quickly returned her focus to the match. She went on to defeat Rakhimova in straight sets, extending her US Open campaign without dropping a set.

While the cannabis complaint provided one of the more unusual moments of the day at Flushing Meadows, it did little to disrupt Sabalenka’s pursuit of another deep run at the tournament.