NEW YORK — Aryna Sabalenka has dealt with pressure, powerful opponents and the expectations that come with being the world No. 1. But during her third-round match at the 2026 US Open, it was something far more unexpected that briefly stopped the two-time defending champion: a strong smell of cannabis.
Sabalenka interrupted play during her match against Uzbekistan’s Kamilla Rakhimova at Louis Armstrong Stadium on Friday after the odor became difficult for her to ignore.
While serving early in the match, Sabalenka tossed the ball but allowed it to drop. She did so again on the following point before walking toward chair umpire Eva Asderaki-Moore to raise the issue.
“Someone is smoking weed,” Sabalenka told the umpire, according to multiple reports.
She then asked whether something could be done because the smell was particularly strong.
Sabalenka: ‘It’s a bit tricky to handle that smell’
The incident quickly became one of the most unusual moments of the day at Flushing Meadows.
Speaking after the match, Sabalenka said she was not certain whether the smell originated from inside the stadium or drifted in from outside.
“I don’t know if it was, like, coming from the crowd or was from the outside because the wind blows it into the stadium,” she said.
Her message to spectators was straightforward: enjoy themselves, but keep smoking away from the tennis courts.
Sabalenka explained that the smell was distracting while she was trying to perform at the highest level.
“It’s a bit tricky to handle that smell while you’re trying to compete at your best,” she said.
Despite the bizarre interruption, the world No. 1 quickly regained her focus.
Sabalenka defeated Rakhimova 6-3, 6-4, advancing to the fourth round without dropping a set. She also extended her US Open winning streak to 16 consecutive matches.
Officials could not determine where the smell came from
The episode sparked immediate speculation about whether a spectator inside Louis Armstrong Stadium had been smoking.
However, officials did not identify a smoker inside the grounds.
The United States Tennis Association said it maintains the Billie Jean King National Tennis Center as a smoke-free facility and that security and guest-services personnel respond when someone is reported to be smoking.
The organization also pointed out an unusual complication: cannabis may be legally used by adults in New York, but smoking is not permitted on the tennis center grounds or in New York City parks.
The US Open complex sits within Flushing Meadows-Corona Park, meaning odors from outside the tournament grounds can potentially drift toward the courts.
According to AP, no fan was found smoking and no spectator was ejected over the incident.
Not the first time players have noticed the smell
Sabalenka’s complaint is not an entirely new phenomenon at the US Open.
The smell of marijuana has been mentioned by players at Flushing Meadows before, with the surrounding park frequently cited as a possible source.
Reuters reported that Sabalenka said she had encountered the smell at the tournament previously, but never at this intensity during a match. The windy conditions may have contributed to the odor reaching the stadium.
Other tennis players have also raised similar concerns over the years, including Nick Kyrgios and Maria Sakkari. British players at this year’s tournament, including Katie Boulter, Fran Jones and Harriet Dart, have also commented on the recurring smell around the tournament grounds.
Sabalenka laughs it off after the match
Rather than allowing the strange interruption to dominate her performance, Sabalenka eventually treated the episode with humor.
After securing the victory, she joked that perhaps some spectators were simply looking for a way to slow down her fast-paced matches.
“Maybe it’s too fast so they want to slow down a little bit, so who knows,” Sabalenka said.
Her lighthearted reaction helped turn what could have been an awkward interruption into one of the most talked-about moments of the US Open’s sixth day.
But the bigger story for Sabalenka remained her performance.
The Belarusian star arrived in New York under significant pressure after a difficult stretch of form. She is trying to defend her US Open title for a third consecutive year, while also protecting her position at the top of the women’s rankings.
According to The Guardian, Sabalenka would lose the No. 1 ranking unless she wins the US Open and Elena Rybakina fails to reach the required stage of the tournament.
Sabalenka moves on as the pressure rises
Her victory over Rakhimova sets up a fourth-round meeting with American Taylor Townsend.
Townsend advanced after defeating 15th seed Diana Shnaider in three sets, setting the stage for another difficult test for the defending champion.
For a few moments on Friday, the biggest threat to Sabalenka’s concentration wasn’t coming from the other side of the net.
It was coming from the air.
And while the mystery cannabis smell briefly stopped the match, it ultimately failed to stop Sabalenka’s march toward another US Open title.
One thing is already clear: the further Sabalenka goes in New York, the more intense the spotlight will become.
WWC ONE MEDIA J.M.S
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