World Number One Aryna Sabalenka Complains Of Strong Marijuana Odour At US Open

Aryna Sabalenka encountered an unusual distraction during her third-round match at the U.S. Open on Friday: the smell of marijuana wafting through Louis Armstrong Stadium. The two-time defending champion complained to the chair umpire early in her victory over Kamilla Rakhimova, saying the odor had become strong enough to interfere with her focus while serving. According to Sabalenka, she had never encountered the smell as intensely as she did during the early stages of the match. She was serving in the third game when she tossed the ball but then let it drop to the court without completing her service motion, repeating the same action on the next point as something clearly bothered her.

She eventually approached the chair umpire to ask for assistance in addressing the issue, explaining afterward that she was uncertain whether the smell was coming from the crowd itself or drifting into the stadium from outside due to wind conditions. Speaking to reporters after the match, Sabalenka said she was not looking to stop anyone from smoking, but simply hoped people would show more awareness around the tennis courts given how disruptive the smell could be for players trying to compete at a high level. She is not the first player to raise this particular complaint at the tournament; other prominent figures on tour, including Nick Kyrgios and Maria Sakkari, have previously voiced similar concerns about the smell of marijuana affecting their matches at the U.S. Open.

A public park located behind the tournament grounds is often cited as the likely source of the odor drifting into the venue. Despite the complaint, no fans were identified as smoking on the grounds or ejected from the facility during the incident. In a statement addressing the matter, United States Tennis Association spokesman Brendan McIntyre acknowledged that while the organization cannot control activity taking place beyond the boundaries of the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center, it remains committed to maintaining the venue as a smoke-free environment. He added that security and guest services teams actively enforce this policy when made aware of individuals smoking on the property, informing them that despite marijuana's legal status in New York, smoking remains prohibited across parks property, including the tennis center.

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By the time she addressed the matter in her post-match press conference, Sabalenka appeared to have taken the situation in stride, even joking about the possibility that fans might have been looking for ways to enhance their experience while watching her play. She speculated with a laugh that spectators may have felt her matches were moving too quickly and wanted to slow things down, though she admitted she had no real insight into what effect, if any, the substance might have had on those nearby.

The incident added a lighthearted moment to an otherwise competitive tournament run for the top-seeded Sabalenka, who advanced to the next round despite the brief disruption. While such distractions are relatively uncommon in professional tennis, the recurring nature of complaints about the smell at the U.S. Open suggests it remains an ongoing, if minor, challenge for tournament organizers working to maintain optimal playing conditions at one of the sport's most prominent venues.

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