Aryna Sabalenka raised a formal complaint to the chair umpire after she detected a strong scent of cannabis drifting through the arena while she was completing her third‑round triumph over Kamilla Rakhimova at the US Open. The world No.1 breezed through the match in straight sets, posting a 6-3, 6-4 win on the iconic Louis Armstrong Stadium, but the pleasant rhythm of her play was briefly interrupted when she approached umpire Eva Asderaki‑Moore during the first change‑over of the opening set, which she was already leading 3-0. "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 could not determine whether the odor originated from a spectator in the stands or from outside the venue, noting that wind currents sometimes funnel smells into the stadium.
"I just hope they’ll be a bit more aware of that," she said. No spectators were identified as smoking and no one was removed from the grounds for the alleged infraction. US Tennis Association spokesperson Brendan McIntyre issued 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." The brief distraction did not affect Sabalenka’s performance. She held serve flawlessly until the seventh game of the match, when Rakhimova finally forced her into three deuce points.
That moment proved to be the only serious challenge Sabalenka faced in the first set, which she closed out 6-3. In the second set, Rakhimova showed resilience, saving four break points and even building a 40‑0 lead at one stage. However, Sabalenka’s experience shone through; she broke Rakhimova in the ninth game, recovered the break after a brief slip, and ultimately sealed the set to move into the round of 16.
Beyond the on‑court drama, Sabalenka also fielded questions about her off‑court schedule. A reporter pressed her about pre‑tournament activities, prompting a terse response. Sabalenka, who frequently shares her travel and brand engagements on social media, defended her preparation routine, insisting that her external commitments had not compromised her readiness 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 aims to become the first player since Serena Williams (who won three consecutive titles from 2012 to 2014) to capture three straight US Open crowns. Her next opponent in the round of 16 will be American Taylor Townsend, whom she will meet after a solid 6-2, 6-7(3), 6-3 win over 13th seed Diana Shnaider.
In the women’s draw, third seed Jessica Pegula kept her maiden Grand Slam dream 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 Cîrstea dispatched 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 dispatched Wu Yibing in straight sets, 6-3, 6-4, 6-1, on Arthur Ashe Stadium. Although the scoreline suggests ease, Alcaraz was actually broken twice in the first two sets, and the second set proved particularly tense when he appeared to be cruising at 2-0 after five consecutive games, only to see Wu fight back and level the score. Alcaraz finally secured a decisive break in the tenth game, establishing a two‑set lead before pulling away in the third. "In the toughest moments I did everything good, which I’m really happy about," Alcaraz said in his post‑match interview.
"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 challenge will be a round‑of‑16 clash with 20th‑seeded American Tommy Paul, who survived a grueling five‑set battle against Kazakhstan’s 15th seed Alexander Bublik, winning 6-4, 3-6, 6-7(4), 6-1, 6-3 in a match that lasted three hours and thirteen minutes.
Elsewhere, seventh seed and 2021 US Open champion Daniil Medvedev continued his strong form by beating Frenchman Arthur Rinderknech 6-4, 6-4, 6-4. The tournament’s broadcast schedule remains robust, with live coverage on Sky Sports beginning August 30. Viewers can also stream matches without a contract via NOW and the Sky Sports app, and the Laver Cup will be shown live from The O2 in London from September 25‑27. Overall, the US Open has delivered a mix of on‑court excellence and off‑court issues, from Sabalenka’s odor complaint to Alcaraz’s return to top‑level competition.
As the fortnight progresses, fans can expect more high‑stakes encounters, potential upsets, and the continued pursuit of historic milestones by the world’s leading tennis stars.