Aryna Sabalenka raised an issue with the umpire after detecting a pronounced smell of cannabis during her third‑round triumph over Kamilla Rakhimova at the US Open. The world No. 1 secured a straight‑sets win, 6‑3, 6‑4, on the hard courts of Louis Armstrong Stadium, but midway through the opening set, after jumping to a 3‑0 lead, she signaled her discomfort to umpire Eva Asderaki‑Moore during the first changeover.
When questioned by reporters afterward, Sabalenka explained, "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.'" She added that the lingering odor made it "a bit tricky to handle that smell while you're trying to compete at your best." No spectators were identified as smoking on the premises, and none were removed from the venue. Sabalenka later speculated that the scent might have originated outside the arena, noting that wind could have carried it into the stadium. She urged organizers and fans to be more mindful of such distractions, emphasizing the need for a clean‑air environment in a sport that demands intense concentration.
US Tennis Association spokesman Brendan McIntyre responded, "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 olfactory distraction, Sabalenka’s performance remained largely unaffected. She held serve flawlessly until the seventh game, when Rakhimova managed to push her to deuce three times. That brief resistance proved to be Rakhimova’s only real opening in the first set, which Sabalenka closed out 6‑3. The second set proved more competitive; Rakhimova fought back repeatedly, saving four break points and even leading 40‑0 at one stage before Sabalenka clawed back, broke in the ninth game and eventually sealed the set to move into the round of 16.
After the match, Sabalenka was asked about her preparation routine ahead of the tournament. She brushed off any suggestion that off‑court commitments had compromised her training, stating, "I completely shut down noise from outside.
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 captured three consecutive US Open titles from 2012‑14) to win three straight US Open crowns. She will meet American Taylor Townsend in the fourth round after dispatching 13th seed Diana Shnaider 6‑2, 6‑7 (3‑7), 6‑3.
In other women’s matches, 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 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 kept him sidelined 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 suggested ease, Alcaraz was broken once in each of the first two sets by his 113th‑ranked opponent, forcing him to fight for every point. The Spaniard described the match as a test of his resilience, noting, "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." Alcaraz also commented on his physical recovery, saying, "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." His next opponent will be 20th‑seeded American Tommy Paul, who earned a place in the round of 16 after surviving 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 lasting 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, moving him deeper into 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.