During her third-round match against Kamilla Rakhimova at the U.S. Open on Friday, World No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka paused play to alert the umpire to the smell of marijuana. The incident occurred at Louis Armstrong Stadium when Sabalenka was leading 2-0 in the first set.
Sabalenka approached umpire Eva Asderaki-Moore and stated, “Someone is smoking weed. Do you mind? Because it’s so strong.” The umpire acknowledged the complaint with a gesture, and play resumed shortly after. The USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center has a strict no-smoking policy, prohibiting smoking and the use of electronic cigarettes.
Despite the distraction, Sabalenka went on to defeat Rakhimova with a score of 6-3, 6-4. This marked her 16th consecutive victory at the U.S. Open. Sabalenka is aiming to become the first player since Serena Williams in 2014 to win three consecutive U.S. Open championships.
"Honestly, it was the first time I played the 11 a.m. session on Louis Armstrong, and it was a full stadium. I’m so grateful,” Sabalenka said after the match. She also praised her opponent's performance, noting that Rakhimova "pushed me so hard in the second set."
Sabalenka is scheduled to play the winner of the third-round match between Taylor Townsend and No. 15 seed Diana Shnaider in the Round of 16. She previously won the U.S. Open final in 2024 against Jessica Pegula and in the previous year against Amanda Anisimova.
Recreational marijuana use is legal in New York City.