Aryna Sabalenka had a problem at the US Open on Friday that probably wasn’t on her list of things to worry about before stepping onto the court.
The world No. 1 was in the middle of her third-round match against Kamilla Rakhimova when she suddenly stopped play and turned to the chair umpire.
The reason?
A strong smell of cannabis had made its way onto Louis Armstrong Stadium.
Sabalenka was actually leading 3-0 at the time, so this wasn’t a case of frustration after losing a game or struggling with her opponent. She simply wanted something done about the smell.
“Someone is smoking weed,” Sabalenka told umpire Eva Asderaki-Moore while she was serving.
She then asked the umpire to deal with it because the smell was so strong.
SABALENKA WASN’T IMAGINING IT
This wasn’t just Sabalenka being distracted by something nobody else noticed.
The smell of cannabis has become an ongoing issue around the US Open grounds this year.
Other players have already complained about it, with some saying the odor drifting over from nearby Flushing Meadows-Corona Park can become distracting during practice and matches.
British No. 1 Katie Boulter previously spoke about experiencing the smell around the practice courts and said players don’t need that kind of distraction while trying to prepare for a Grand Slam.
Now one of the biggest stars in the tournament has had enough of it to actually stop a match.
That makes this more than just a funny moment.
It’s becoming a genuine talking point around the tournament.
THE TIMING COULDN’T HAVE BEEN STRANGER
Imagine being the No. 1 player in the world.
You’re defending your US Open title.
You’re three games into a third-round match.
You’re already ahead.
Then you suddenly have to tell the umpire that somebody appears to be smoking weed.
That was Sabalenka’s reality.
The interruption was brief, but it immediately became one of the strangest moments of the tournament.
And because Sabalenka is one of the most recognizable players in women’s tennis, the moment was always going to attract attention.
BUT SABALENKA DIDN’T LET IT RUIN HER MATCH
The interesting part is what happened afterward.
Sabalenka didn’t fall apart.
She didn’t allow the interruption to derail her.
Instead, the defending champion got back to business and finished the job against Rakhimova.
Sabalenka won 6-3, 6-4 to reach the fourth round of the US Open and continue her attempt to win a third consecutive title in New York.
So whatever was happening around the court, Sabalenka managed to block it out once play resumed.
That may actually be the most impressive part of the story.
NEW YORK HAS A CANNABIS PROBLEM?
There is a little more context behind the unusual incident.
Recreational cannabis is legal for adults over 21 in New York, but smoking is prohibited inside the US Open grounds.
The tournament is located beside Flushing Meadows-Corona Park, and reports indicate that smoke from the surrounding area can drift toward the tennis complex.
That means the problem isn’t necessarily somebody openly smoking inside the stadium.
But for players on court, the distinction probably doesn’t matter much.
If you’re trying to serve at 120 miles per hour with thousands of people watching, the last thing you want is an unexpected smell distracting you.
SABALENKA HAS BIGGER THINGS TO WORRY ABOUT
The strange interruption may have provided some entertainment for fans, but Sabalenka’s focus remains on something much bigger.
She is trying to defend her US Open crown.
After winning the tournament in 2024 and 2025, Sabalenka is attempting to become the first woman in decades to win the US Open three years in a row.
And so far, she’s still on track.
Her victory over Rakhimova puts her into the fourth round, meaning she’s getting closer to another deep run in New York.
The world No. 1 has already shown that she can handle the pressure.
Now she apparently has to handle the smell too.
THIS ISN’T THE FIRST TIME PLAYERS HAVE COMPLAINED
What’s making the Sabalenka moment particularly interesting is that she’s not the first player to bring up the issue.
Complaints about cannabis odors around Flushing Meadows have been circulating throughout the tournament.
Players have mentioned the smell around certain courts and practice areas, particularly those closer to the neighboring park.
So while Sabalenka’s interruption might sound bizarre, it didn’t come completely out of nowhere.
The difference is that this time, the world No. 1 brought the issue directly into the spotlight during a match.
THE US OPEN CAN’T CONTROL EVERYTHING AROUND IT
That’s probably the difficult part for tournament organizers.
The US Open can control what happens inside the gates.
It can enforce its own rules.
But it can’t completely control what people are doing in the surrounding public areas.
And when the wind carries an odor into the stadium, there’s only so much officials can do.
Still, from a player’s perspective, that’s not exactly comforting.
Grand Slam tennis requires an incredible level of concentration.
A strange smell might seem minor to someone sitting at home watching television.
For a player competing for a championship, it can be enough to break concentration at exactly the wrong moment.
SABALENKA MOVES ON
The good news for Sabalenka is that the distraction didn’t cost her.
She handled the situation, got back to tennis and took care of business.
The world No. 1 is still alive.
The defending champion is still chasing history.
And she’s still one of the biggest threats in the entire tournament.
But after Friday, there’s another question surrounding the US Open.
How long can tournament officials keep players focused when distractions are literally drifting into the stadium?
For Sabalenka, the answer was simple.
Apparently, just stop the match, report it to the umpire and then get back to winning.
And that’s exactly what she did.
