Aryna Sabalenka raised a formal complaint to the match official after detecting a strong odor of cannabis 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 hard courts of Louis Armstrong Stadium, but the lingering smell became a point of contention early in the contest. After racing to a 3-0 lead in the opening set, Sabalenka approached umpire Eva Asderaki‑Moore at the first changeover and asked that the source of the scent be identified and eliminated. "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 explained to the press afterwards.
"It’s a bit tricky to handle that smell while you’re trying to compete at your best." She added that no spectators were observed smoking and that none had been removed from the venue, leaving her unsure whether the smell originated from the crowd, a nearby street, or simply drifted in with the wind. USTA spokesperson Brendan McIntyre issued a statement emphasizing the organization’s commitment to a smoke‑free environment: "While we can’t control what happens off the grounds of the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center, we remain vigilant in maintaining this facility as a smoke‑free zone." The governing body’s response underscored the difficulty of policing odors that may travel from outside the perimeter.
Despite the distraction, Sabalenka’s performance remained virtually unaffected. She held serve flawlessly until the seventh game of the match, when Rakhimova forced three deuce points. That brief hiccup represented Rakhimova’s only serious opening‑set opportunity; Sabalenka closed the set 6-3 and then tightened her grip in the second. The Russian fought back repeatedly, saving four break points and even building a 40‑0 lead at one stage, but Sabalenka’s experience and resilience prevailed.
She eventually broke Rakhimova in the ninth game of the second set and served out the set to secure her place in the round of 16. The victory also gave Sabalenka a chance to address rumors about her preparation for Flushing Meadows.
Earlier in the tournament she had been queried about off‑court activities and sponsorship obligations. She responded firmly, insisting that her extracurricular engagements had not compromised her training regimen.
"I completely shut down noise from outside," she said after the win. "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 will attempt to become the first player since Serena Williams (who won three consecutive titles from 2012‑14) to capture three straight US Open crowns. She is slated to meet American Taylor Townsend in the round of 16 after Townsend dispatched 13th seed Diana Shnaider 6-2, 6-7 (3-7), 6-3.
In the women’s draw, other notable results included Jessica Pegula’s continued pursuit of her first Grand Slam title. The third seed rallied from a 1-6 deficit to beat former US Open finalist Leylah Fernandez 1-6, 6-4, 6-3, earning a spot against Romania’s Sorana Cîrstea in the next round. Cîrstea, the 16th seed, had earlier dispatched Italy’s Jasmine Paolini in straight sets, 6-3, 6-3.
On the men’s side, defending champion Carlos Alcaraz demonstrated that his recovery from a wrist injury is progressing well. He overcame Wu Yibing in straight sets, 6-3, 6-4, 6-1, on Arthur Ashe Stadium, though the scoreline belied the effort required. Alcaraz was broken twice in the first two sets by the 113th‑ranked Chinese player, and the Spaniard admitted the second set was particularly frustrating when he appeared to be cruising at 2-0 before Wu rallied.
Alcaraz eventually secured a decisive break in the 10th game to claim a two‑set lead and then pulled away in the third. "In the toughest moments I did everything good, which I’m really happy about," he 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 (4-7), 6-1, 6-3 in a match lasting three hours and 13 minutes.
Elsewhere, seventh seed and 2021 US Open champion Daniil Medvedev displayed his trademark consistency, beating Frenchman Arthur Rinderknech 6-4, 6-4, 6-4 to move 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 upcoming Laver Cup at The O2 in London from September 25‑27, also shown on Sky Sports.