Aryna Sabalenka briefly stopped her US Open match after detecting a strong smell of cannabis, then closed out a 6-3 6-4 win to reach the fourth round.
The top seed raised the issue after moving 3-0 ahead against Uzbekistan's Kamilla Rakhimova, telling umpire Eva Asderaki-Moore, "someone is smoking weed" and asking officials to intervene "because it's so strong". Asderaki-Moore radioed a tournament official and made a smoking gesture toward the crowd before play resumed.
Sabalenka dominated from the start on Louis Armstrong Stadium, dropping just four points on serve in the opening set, serving 10 aces to Rakhimova's two and not facing a break point. She secured the decisive break in the second set to serve out victory and keep her run at Flushing Meadows intact.
The win extended Sabalenka's streak at the US Open to 16 matches and maintained her pursuit of a fifth Grand Slam singles title. As the two-time defending champion, she is chasing a third consecutive US Open, a feat last achieved by Serena Williams from 2012 to 2014.
After the match Sabalenka said she was unsure whether the smell came from inside the stadium or drifted in from nearby Corona Park, where the wind can carry odours, and asked spectators to be more considerate. "It's a bit tricky to handle that smell while you're trying to compete at your best," she said. "I don't know if it was coming from the crowd or was from the outside because the wind blows it into the stadium. I just hope they're going to be a bit more aware of that stuff." The tournament bans smoking on site, though recreational cannabis is legal for adults aged 21 and over in New York.
Other players at this year's US Open have also reported noticing cannabis odour, with Britain’s Katie Boulter, Harriet Dart and Francesca Jones among those who said it was distracting. Past top players, including Novak Djokovic and Alexander Zverev, have made similar complaints in previous years.
Sabalenka will next face Taylor Townsend for a place in the quarter-finals, after the American beat Diana Shnaider to reach the fourth round.
