World No 1 Aryna Sabalenka called a halt to her third-round match at the US Open after complaining she could smell marijuana.
The two-time defending champion was 2-0 up and serving in the first set against Kamilla Rakhimova on Louis Armstrong Stadium when she stopped abruptly and spoke to her team before approaching the umpire’s chair.
“Someone is smoking weed,” she told umpire Eva Asderaki-Moore. “Would you mind to… because it’s so strong.”
Asderaki-Moore spoke to an official on her radio and turned to someone else behind her, making a smoking gesture with her fingers, before play continued.
The smell of weed around Flushing Meadows has been an issue this week but has broadly been confined to the outside courts, close to nearby Corona Park. Smoking of any kind is prohibited on the site itself.
Afterwards, Sabalenka said: “I was, like, Guys, you can do whatever, you can smoke whatever, you can relax as much as you can, but please, do not do it around the tennis courts. It’s a bit tricky to handle that smell while you’re trying to compete at your best.
“[The smell was] that strong, yeah. Also, because it was a bit windy. 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. I don’t know. I just hope they’re going to be a bit more aware of that stuff.”
Despite the disruption Sabalenka was able to keep composed, winning 6-3 6-4 and withstanding the pressure as Rakhimova rallied in the second set, which took 54 minutes - a minute longer than Sabalenka’s entire second-round match.
“Second she played incredible tennis,” the Belarusian said. “She really pushed me so hard in the second set and I love when they bring their best tennis because they really push me to improve.”
She joked that she wore an elaborate, eye-catching jewellery set to “distract” opponents but in reality could rely on her usual easy power and aggression to hold off the world No 92.
Sabalenka, who is aiming to become the first woman to win three US Open titles in a row since Serena Williams from 2012-2014, will next play American Taylor Townsend.
Later on Friday third seed and former finalist Jessica Pegula survived a huge scare against 2021 runner-up Leylah Fernandez, dropping an error-strewn first set 6-1 before regrouping and taking advantage of a dip in the Canadian’s level to win 1-6 6-4 6-3, roared on by a hugely supportive home crowd.
“I’m not sure [how I turned it around], it was really tough today,” Pegula said afterwards. “I never feel comfortable playing her even when I’ve won. I knew I was going to have to dig deep, really glad I could find something there to turn it around.”
Pegula will play Romania’s Sorana Cirstea in the fourth round after the 16th seed beat 19th seed Jasmine Paolini in straight sets.
With PA
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