World No. 1 tennis star Aryna Sabalenka was forced to briefly halt her third-round match at the US Open after experiencing a strong odor of marijuana inside the stadium.
The incident occurred during her match against Uzbekistan’s Kamilla Rakhimova at the Louis Armstrong Stadium, when Sabalenka paused play during her second service game to raise the issue with chair umpire Eva Asderaki-Moore. Sabalenka requested action, noting that the heavy smell made it difficult to maintain focus during competition.
In post-match comments, Sabalenka clarified that while she does not oppose adult recreational use, she requested that fans refrain from smoking near the court area. Under New York law, recreational marijuana use is legal for individuals aged 21 and older, though smoking remains strictly prohibited within the US Open venue grounds. Sabalenka noted that strong winds likely carried the smell into the stadium from outside, adding that while she had noticed similar smells earlier in the tournament, the intensity during this match was unusually high.
