Aryna Sabalenka raised an issue with the umpire during her third-round triumph over Kamilla Rakhimova at the US Open, pointing out a strong smell of cannabis that seemed to linger in the arena. The world number one dispatched the unseeded Russian in straight sets, 6-3, 6-4, on the hard courts of Louis Armstrong Stadium, but the pleasant rhythm of the match was briefly interrupted when Sabalenka asked umpire Eva Asderaki-Moore to address the odour at the first changeover after she had surged to a 3-0 lead in the opening set. "I was like, 'Guys, you can do whatever, you can smoke whatever, you can relax as much as you can, but please don’t do it around the tennis courts,'" Sabalenka told reporters after the match.
"It's a bit tricky to handle that smell while you're trying to compete at your best." She added that she was unsure whether the scent was coming from spectators inside the stadium or drifting in from outside, noting that wind conditions sometimes carry smells into the venue. "I just hope they're going to be a bit more aware of that stuff," she said. No spectators were identified as smoking and no one was removed from the grounds for the alleged violation.
The United States Tennis Association (USTA) spokesman Brendan McIntyre responded in a statement, emphasizing the organization’s commitment to a smoke‑free environment: "While we can't control what takes place off the grounds of the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center, we continue to be vigilant as we maintain this facility as a smoke‑free environment." Despite the distraction, Sabalenka’s performance remained virtually unaffected. She held serve flawlessly until the seventh game of the match, when Rakhimova forced her into three consecutive deuce points. That brief pressure represented Rakhimova’s only real opening in the first set, which Sabalenka still closed out 6-3.
In the second set, the Russian showed more resilience, saving four break points and holding serve four times in a row before Sabalenka finally broke her in the ninth game. Rakhimova even let a 40-0 lead slip, allowing the four‑time Grand Slam champion to seize the crucial break and eventually serve out the set, sealing a place in the round of 16.
Beyond the on‑court drama, Sabalenka also faced a pointed line of questioning about her off‑court commitments. After her win, a reporter pressed her about her pre‑tournament activities, prompting a terse reply.
Sabalenka, who frequently shares her schedule and brand partnerships on social media, insisted that her external engagements had not interfered with her preparation for Flushing Meadows. "I completely shut down noise from outside," she said. "I focus on myself, and I know if I do that and work really hard I will have my chances and be able to play a great level of tennis." Looking ahead, Sabalenka hopes to become the first player since Serena Williams (who won three consecutive US Open titles from 2012 to 2014) to capture three straight US Open crowns. In the round of 16 she will meet American Taylor Townsend, after Townsend dispatched the 13th seed Diana Shnaider 6-2, 6-7 (3-7), 6-3.
The tournament also featured other notable storylines. Third seed Jessica Pegula kept her maiden Grand Slam title hopes alive by rallying from a set down to defeat former US Open finalist Leylah Fernandez 1-6, 6-4, 6-3. Pegula will face Romania’s Sorana Cîrstea in the next round after the 16th seed beat Italy’s Jasmine Paolini 6-3, 6-3. On the men’s side, defending champion Carlos Alcaraz continued his comeback from a wrist injury that sidelined him for more than four months.
He beat Wu Yibing in straight sets, 6-3, 6-4, 6-1, on Arthur Ashe Stadium. Although the scoreline suggests a comfortable victory, Alcaraz was actually broken twice in the first two sets, underscoring the challenge Wu presented. The Spaniard fought back, securing a decisive break in the 10th game of the second set to take a two‑set lead, and then pulling away in the third. After the match Alcaraz praised his performance: "In the toughest moments I did everything good, which I'm really happy about.
Could it be better? Yes. But overall I'm just really proud and happy with the performance today. To be honest, I'm playing better than I thought after the wrist injury.
Physically, I thought I was going to be dead after the first match, but I'm recovering really well. My level right now is really good, I've got the rhythm of the competition every time I step on the court." Alcaraz’s next opponent will be 20th‑seeded American Tommy Paul, who survived a five‑set thriller against Kazakhstan’s 15th seed Alexander Bublik, winning 6-4, 3-6, 6-7 (4-7), 6-1, 6-3 in a match that lasted three hours and 13 minutes. Elsewhere, seventh seed and 2021 US Open champion Daniil Medvedev displayed his dominance by beating Frenchman Arthur Rinderknech 6-4, 6-4, 6-4, advancing confidently into the later stages of the tournament.
The US Open continues to be broadcast live on Sky Sports from August 30, with streaming options available on NOW and the Sky Sports app. Fans can also catch the Laver Cup at The O2 in London from September 25‑27, also shown on Sky Sports.
The tournament remains a showcase of high‑stakes tennis, compelling narratives, and occasional off‑court controversies such as the cannabis smell incident that briefly captured Sabalenka’s attention but did not deter her from delivering a commanding performance.