Aryna Sabalenka pauses her US Open third-round match after complaining to officials about what she describes as a very strong smell of cannabis in Louis Armstrong Stadium. In multiple reports, Sabalenka stops play mid-match to alert the chair umpire, asking staff to address the issue because the odor is strong enough to disrupt players.
The match is against Kamilla Rakhimova, on the US Open’s second-biggest court. After the brief interruption, Sabalenka resumes and later wins in straight sets, 6-3, 6-4, to reach the fourth round. Some outlets emphasize her direct language to the umpire and the apparent presence of a spectator smoking, while others focus on the smell itself and her explanation that she has noticed cannabis odor at the tournament before but felt it was particularly strong during her match.
Coverage also varies in tone and framing, but all describe the same sequence: the in-match complaint, officials being alerted, a short stoppage, and then Sabalenka continuing to win. Reports note that the incident becomes another talking point from the US Open at Flushing Meadows, where players sometimes cite unusual distractions.
