Aryna Sabalenka raised a formal complaint to the match official after detecting a pronounced scent of cannabis while she was completing her third‑round triumph over Kamilla Rakhimova at the US Open. The world number one dispatched the unseeded Russian 6-3, 6-4 on the hard courts of Louis Armstrong Stadium, yet midway through the opening set, when she had already surged ahead 3-0, she signaled to umpire Eva Asderaki‑Moore that the odor was becoming a distraction. "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 the press 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 smell originated from a spectator in the crowd or from outside the arena, noting that wind currents can carry odors into the stadium.
"I just hope they're going to be a bit more aware of that stuff," she said. No fans were identified as smoking and subsequently removed from the venue.
US Tennis Association spokesperson Brendan McIntyre responded in a written 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 aromatic interruption did not appear to affect Sabalenka's performance. She held serve flawlessly until the seventh game, when Rakhimova forced her into three deuce points.
That brief resistance proved to be the only real opening for the Russian in the first set, which Sabalenka closed out 6-3. In the second set, Rakhimova displayed resilience, saving four break points and holding serve four consecutive times before finally succumbing in the ninth game. Sabalenka broke Rakhimova's serve at 40-0, turning the tide and eventually sealing the set to move into the round of 16.
Beyond the on‑court drama, Sabalenka also faced a terse interview regarding her off‑court commitments. A reporter pressed her about her pre‑tournament activities, and she responded firmly, insisting that her numerous brand engagements and social‑media appearances had not compromised 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 claim three straight crowns at the tournament. Her next opponent in the fourth round will be American Taylor Townsend, who earned her spot by defeating 13th seed Diana Shnaider 6-2, 6-7 (3-7), 6-3.
In other women's matches, 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 meet Romania's Sorana Cirstea in the round of 16 after the 16th seed dispatched Italy's Jasmine Paolini in straight sets, 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 China's Wu Yibing in straight sets, 6-3, 6-4, 6-1, on Arthur Ashe Stadium. Although the score suggests a comfortable victory, Alcaraz was broken twice in the first two sets, and the second set proved particularly tense.
After leading 2-0 with a run of five consecutive games, Alcaraz saw Wu rally and force a break, delaying his progress. Alcaraz eventually secured a decisive break in the tenth game, establishing a two‑set lead before cruising through the third.
Alcaraz reflected on his performance in the post‑match interview: "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." The Spaniard'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 (4-7), 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 dominant baseline game by defeating Frenchman Arthur Rinderknech 6-4, 6-4, 6-4, advancing to 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 upcoming Laver Cup at The O2 in London, scheduled for September 25‑27, live on Sky Sports.