Aryna Sabalenka voiced a complaint to the umpire after noticing a strong scent of cannabis drifting through the stadium during her third‑round triumph over Kamilla Rakhimova at the US Open. The world No.1 dispatched the unseeded Russian in straight sets, 6-3, 6-4, on the iconic Louis Armstrong Stadium, but the pleasant rhythm of the match was briefly interrupted when she raised the issue at the first changeover after taking a 3-0 lead in the opening set.
Sabalenka approached umpire Eva Asderaki‑Moore and said, "I understand people can relax and even smoke if they want, but please don’t do it around the courts." She added that the lingering odor made it difficult to maintain focus while trying to perform at her highest level. No spectators were identified as smoking, and none were ejected from the venue.
The player was unsure whether the smell originated from the crowd or was carried in from outside the arena by the wind. "I don’t know if it was coming from the stands or from outside, because the wind can bring it in," she told reporters. "I just hope people become more aware of this kind of thing." USTA spokesperson Brendan McIntyre responded that, while the organization cannot control everything that happens beyond the perimeter of the Billie Jean King National Tennis Center, they remain vigilant in keeping the complex a smoke‑free environment. Despite the distraction, Sabalenka’s game remained virtually untouched.
She held every first serve until the seventh game, when Rakhimova managed to push her to deuce three times in a row. That brief hiccup proved to be the only real opening Rakhimova created in the first set, which Sabalenka closed out 6-3. The second set proved more competitive; Rakhimova saved four break points and fought back from four‑game deficits to hold serve repeatedly. However, Sabalenka eventually broke her opponent in the ninth game, after Rakhimova squandered a 40‑0 lead.
The Belarusian then served out the set, securing her place in the round of 16. After the match, Sabalenka was asked about her preparation routine before the tournament.
She cut the interview short, emphasizing that her off‑court commitments had not interfered with her training for Flushing Meadows. "I completely shut out any noise from outside," she said. "I focus on myself, work hard, and that gives me the chance to play at a high level." Looking ahead, Sabalenka hopes to become the first player since Serena Williams (who won three consecutive titles from 2012‑2014) to capture three straight US Open crowns. She will meet American Taylor Townsend in the last‑16 round after defeating 13th seed Diana Shnaider 6-2, 6-7 (3-7), 6-3.
In the women’s draw, third seed Jessica Pegula kept her dream of a maiden Grand Slam alive by rallying from a set down to beat 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 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 defeated Wu Yibing in straight sets, 6-3, 6-4, 6-1, on Arthur Ashe Stadium. The match was more demanding than the score suggests; Alcaraz was broken back in both of the first two sets by the 113th‑ranked Chinese player. The Spaniard struggled to maintain momentum in the second set, where he led 2-0 after winning five consecutive games, only to see Wu claw back and force a break point against him. Alcaraz eventually secured a decisive break in the 10th game, took a two‑set lead, and pulled away in the third.
After the win, Alcaraz praised his performance, saying, "In the toughest moments I did everything right, which makes me very happy. Could it have been better?
Yes, but overall I’m proud and happy with today’s performance. I’m playing better than I expected after the wrist injury.
Physically I thought I would be dead after the first match, but I’m recovering well. My level is good and I have the rhythm of competition every time I step on court." Alcaraz’s next opponent will be 20th‑seeded American Tommy Paul, who survived a five‑set battle 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 thirteen 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. 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.