Aryna Sabalenka stopped play during her third-round match at the US Open on Friday to ask the umpire to do something about a spectator smoking marijuana in the stands, telling the official the smell was so strong it was impossible to ignore.
The World No. 1 was early in her match against Kamilla Rakhimova when she paused, looked toward her box to confirm her team could also detect the smoke, and then walked directly to the umpire’s chair. "Someone is smoking weed," Sabalenka said, according to audio picked up by broadcast microphones. "Do you mind? Because it’s so strong."
The umpire responded by miming a smoking gesture with her fingers, apparently signaling that she understood the issue and would address it. Play resumed shortly after, with Sabalenka going on to win the match 6-3, 6-4.
Sabalenka dominated Rakhimova throughout, trailing only twice in the entire contest and closing out the second set by winning the final three games. The victory sends the Belarusian into the Round of 16, her third straight-sets win of the tournament.
The interruption is the latest in a string of crowd-related incidents at this year’s event, which has drawn a noticeable influx of influencers and first-time attendees. Naomi Osaka dealt with a similar disruption during her first-round match, after which she encouraged newcomers to "read up" on tennis etiquette. The repeated distractions have become a talking point among players, though Sabalenka appeared to handle Friday’s situation with minimal fuss.
The brief pause did little to slow her momentum. Sabalenka has now dropped just one set across her three matches in New York, and her level has been steadily building as the tournament deepens. That consistency matters more than usual this year, given what is at stake in the rankings.
Sabalenka has held the No. 1 spot since October 2024, but her grip on the top position is under serious threat. Elena Rybakina, the No. 2-ranked player, only needs to reach the semifinals at Flushing Meadows to overtake Sabalenka and claim the top ranking for herself. That scenario remains live, which adds real weight to every round Sabalenka plays here.
For now, Sabalenka is doing what she needs to do. The weed smoke was an unwelcome distraction, but it was also a minor one. She dealt with it, got back to business, and moved one step closer to defending her position at the top of the game.
Rybakina’s path is still in front of her, and the rankings battle will resolve itself over the coming days. Sabalenka’s immediate focus, though, is on the next match, not the math. The Round of 16 awaits, and based on her form so far, she will enter it as the clear favorite regardless of who lines up across the net.
According to Yahoo Sports.