Sabalenka interrupts US Open match over cannabis smell

Aryna Sabalenka pushed past the distraction to complete a straight-sets win over Kamilla Rakhimova. ( Getty Images/USTA: Jeff Dean )

World number one Aryna Sabalenka halted her US Open match against Uzbekistan's Kamilla Rakhimova after claiming she could smell cannabis.

The odour of cannabis is common at Flushing Meadows.

Sabalenka put the distraction to the side to win 6-3, 6-4 and move through to the fourth round.

Aryna Sabalenka had an unusual interruption during her US Open third-round match, stopping play to alert the umpire to a strong smell of cannabis drifting onto Louis Armstrong Stadium court.

The world number one, who secured a 6-3, 6-4 win against Uzbekistan's Kamilla Rakhimova, raised the issue during her second service game, pointing out the smell before play resumed.

"Someone is smoking weed," top seed Sabalenka told umpire Eva Asderaki-Moore as she was serving 30-0 up.

"Do you mind? Because it's so strong."

Sabalenka later told reporters she was not objecting to anyone enjoying themselves but pleaded for the smoking to be kept away from the court.

"I was like, 'Guys, you can do whatever, you can smoke whatever, you can relax as much as you can, but please not do it around the tennis courts,'" a smiling Sabalenka said.

"It's a bit tricky to handle that smell while you're trying to compete at your best."

The odour of cannabis has become a familiar — if unwelcome — feature at Flushing Meadows, with players complaining about the distraction in the past.

While smoking is not permitted inside the grounds, recreational cannabis is legal for adults over 21 in New York.

Smoke from people in the surrounding Flushing Meadows-Corona Park can drift into the tennis complex and on to the courts.

Sabalenka said she had previously smelled cannabis at the tournament but never so strongly during a match, with the wind apparently carrying the odour into the stadium.

"I don't know if it was coming from the crowd or was from the outside because the wind blows it into the stadium," she said.

"I just hope they are a bit more aware of that stuff."

As her post-match media conference continued, Sabalenka laughed when questions returned to the subject.

"Come on, guys. I think there is nothing else to say about weed," she said.

"I'm just asking people not to smoke it next to the tennis court."

Jessica Pegula rallied from behind to beat fellow former US Open finalist Leylah Fernandez 1-6, 6-4, 6-3 and make the fourth round.

Third seed Pegula faces Sorana Cîrstea in the last 16 and will need to iron out some of the flaws in her game after a sluggish start against Fernandez.

But the American showed the resilience and composure that have made her one of the title contenders.

Back at Arthur Ashe Stadium, where her dream run ended against Emma Raducanu in the 2021 final, Fernandez seized the initiative and rarely allowed Pegula to find any rhythm early in the contest.

Jessica Pegula moved through to the fourth round after defeating Leylah Fernandez. ( Getty Images: Al Bello )

"It was really tough today. I always feel it's hard to play her. I never feel comfortable when I play her, even when I have won," said Pegula, who was the 2024 US Open runner-up.

"I was going to have to dig deep. I'm glad I was able to find somewhere there in the second set to turn it around.

"She's a great player, so it was really hard. A lot of it revolves around my serve. My serve percentage was pretty bad."

Romanian 16th seed Cîrstea, 36, extended her impressive farewell-season campaign with a clinical 6-3, 6-3 win over Italy's 19th-seeded Jasmine Paolini.

Ukraine's Marta Kostyuk, seeded 11th in New York, advanced to the fourth round with a straight-sets 6-3, 6-2 victory over Russian Ekaterina Alexandrova.

In the men's draw, Russian seventh seed Daniil Medvedev overpowered Frenchman Arthur Rinderknech with a 6,-4 6-4, 6-4 victory.