Aryna Sabalenka, the two-time defending champion, briefly halted her US Open match today after complaining about a strong cannabis smell on her court. She was leading 3-0 in her match against Kamilla Rakhimova when she approached the chair umpire, Eva Asderaki-Moore, stating, “Someone is smoking weed, do you mind … because it’s so strong.”
Sabalenka later commented on the incident, saying, “I was, like, Guys, you can do whatever, you can smoke whatever, you can relax as much as you can, but please, do not do it around the tennis courts. It’s a bit tricky to handle that smell while you’re trying to compete at your best.”
Despite the interruption, Sabalenka went on to win her match 6-3, 6-4, securing her place in the fourth round. Cannabis is legal in New York, and the smell is reportedly common around the tournament grounds and the city.