Aryna Sabalenka Dramatically Stops US Open 2026 Match, Complains Of 'Strong' Smell Of Weed From Stands

The 2026 US Open saw a moment of embarrassment as World No. 1 Women's Singles player stopped her third-round match on Friday (September 4) against Uzbekistan’s Kamilla Rakhimova at the Louis Armstrong Stadium in New York due to the alleged smell of marijuana. The episode happened despite smoking being banned inside the venue's premises.

The incident happened in only the third game of the first set of the match while Sabalenka was in the middle of just her second service game. After winning the first two points, the Belarusian was getting ready to serve again, when she was visibly disturbed by the smell. The defending champion first had a word with members of her team in the stands before approaching the umpire, Eva Asderaki-Moore, to complain about the odor and said that it was very strong.

"Someone is smoking weed. Would you mind to ... ‌because ⁠it's so strong," Sabalenka was heard saying.

The incident marks serious questions for organizers, as the match is taking place at the second-biggest venue at Flushing Meadows, which means that the stands are sufficiently enclosed to block any smell from outside the arena.

For those unversed, legislation allows adults over the age of 21 to smoke recreational cannabis in New York.

Despite the distraction, Sabalenka had an easy outing, as she won the match in straight sets by a 6-3, 6-4 margin in a game that lasted just one hour and 29 minutes. The top-ranked player in the world is looking to win the title for the third time in a row after winning the trophy in 2024 and 2025. She also has won the Australian Open twice (2023, 2024).

So far, she is yet to drop a set in the tournament, as she even won her first two round matches in straight sets.

Aayush Kataria is a Senior Copy Editor at Times Network with four years of experience, having started his career in the organisation. He is a key memb... View More