Aryna Sabalenka raised a complaint to the chair umpire after noticing a potent whiff of cannabis drifting through the arena 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 scent became a distraction early in the match. After securing a quick 3-0 lead in the opening set, Sabalenka approached umpire Eva Asderaki‑Moore at the first changeover and asked for the source of the odor to be addressed. "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 was unsure whether the smell originated from spectators inside the venue or was blown in from the surrounding streets by the wind, but she urged the crowd and event staff to be more mindful of such issues in the future. No spectators were identified as smoking on the premises, and none were removed from the grounds. US Tennis Association spokesperson Brendan McIntyre responded in a press release, stating, "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 statement underscored the USTA's commitment to keeping the tournament area free from any form of smoke that could impair player performance or spectator enjoyment. Despite the aromatic intrusion, Sabalenka's level of play remained virtually unaffected.
She did not miss a single first serve until the seventh game, when Rakhimova managed to force her into three deuce points. That brief lapse proved to be Rakhimova's only genuine 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 holding serve after four consecutive break attempts by Sabalenka.
However, the Belarusian finally broke her opponent in the ninth game, turning a 40-0 lead for Rakhimova into a crucial break of serve that helped her seal the set and the match. After the win, Sabalenka was pressed about her preparation routine during a terse exchange with a reporter.
She defended her off‑court commitments, emphasizing that her social media presence and brand engagements had not compromised her training 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 titles from 2012 to 2014) to capture three straight US Open crowns. In the round of 16 she will meet American Taylor Townsend, having already dispatched the 13th seed Diana Shnaider 6-2, 6-7 (3-7), 6-3.
Elsewhere in the women's draw, third seed Jessica Pegula kept her maiden Grand Slam title hopes alive by rallying past former US Open finalist Leylah Fernandez, winning 1-6, 6-4, 6-3. The American 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 sidelined him for more than four months. He defeated Wu Yibing in straight sets, 6-3, 6-4, 6-1, on Arthur Ashe Stadium. Though the scoreline suggests a comfortable victory, Alcaraz was broken twice in the first two sets by his 113th‑ranked opponent, indicating that the match demanded more effort than the numbers reveal.
The Spaniard described his performance as a positive step forward: "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." 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 marathon lasting three hours and thirteen minutes.
In other notable results, seventh seed and 2021 US Open champion Daniil Medvedev overpowered Frenchman Arthur Rinderknech with a straight‑sets victory, 6-4, 6-4, 6-4. The tournament continues to deliver high‑quality tennis across both draws, with matches broadcast live on Sky Sports from August 30.
Fans can also stream the action without a contract via NOW or the Sky Sports app, and the Laver Cup will be shown live from The O2 in London between September 25 and 27.