Aryna Sabalenka secured her spot in the US Open fourth round with a 6-3, 6-4 victory over Kamilla Rakhimova, though the match was briefly interrupted by an unusual complaint. While leading 3-0 early in the contest, the two-time defending champion approached chair umpire Eva Asderaki-Moore to report a pungent smell of cannabis near the court. “Someone is smoking weed, do you mind … because it’s so strong,” she told the official. Later, she reflected on the incident with humor, noting that while spectators are free to enjoy themselves, the odor proved distracting during high-stakes competition.
The presence of cannabis has become a recurring topic at the US Open, reflecting its legal status in New York. Sabalenka, who noted the smell was more intense than in previous years, remained unsure whether the smoke originated from the stands or was carried into the stadium by the wind. She expressed hope that attendees would be more mindful of the environment surrounding the players. Despite the distraction, the Belarusian maintained her composure, finishing the match without dropping a set and delivering a dominant serving performance that included 10 aces and zero break points faced.
This performance marks a significant step in Sabalenka’s efforts to regain her form. Having struggled to reach a final since her back-to-back titles at Indian Wells and Miami in March, she is currently fighting to defend her world No 1 ranking, which she has held for 97 weeks. Her path to retaining the top spot requires a third consecutive US Open title, provided world No 2 Elena Rybakina does not reach the semi-finals.
Off-court pressures have also been a focus for the star. During a recent press conference, Sabalenka engaged in a heated exchange with a reporter who characterized her pre-tournament schedule as “parties and fun.” The player pushed back firmly against the suggestion, clarifying that her social media posts reflected brand obligations rather than leisure. She urged the reporter to exercise more caution with their words, emphasizing the intensity of her professional preparation.
Looking ahead, Sabalenka faces a challenging fourth-round matchup against American Taylor Townsend, who defeated 15th seed Diana Shnaider 6-2, 6-7 (3), 6-3. Meanwhile, the men’s draw saw 2021 champion Daniil Medvedev advance with a 6-4, 6-4, 6-4 win over Arthur Rinderknetch. Defending champion Carlos Alcaraz also continued his successful return from a four-and-a-half-month injury layoff, overcoming Wu Yibing 6-3, 6-4, 6-1.
Alcaraz, who had been sidelined since April with a right-wing wrist injury, expressed surprise at his own recovery and performance level. “To be honest, I’m better than I thought,” he said, noting that he is managing his physical condition well despite the demands of the tournament. The Spaniard is set to face 20th seed Tommy Paul, who earned his own place in the next round by outlasting Alexander Bublik in a five-set thriller, 6-4, 3-6, 6-7(4), 6-1, 6-3. The report also notes that a smiling Sabalenka approached the chair umpire Eva Asderaki-Moore while leading 3-0, stating “Someone is smoking weed, do you mind … because it’s so strong,” Afterwards, Sabalenka laughed as she described her interaction with the umpire: “I was, like, Guys, you can do whatever, you can smoke whatever, you can relax as much as you can, but please, do not do it around the tennis courts, early in the match. The report also notes that it’s a bit tricky to handle that smell while you’re trying to compete at your best.”. The report also notes that like, coming from the crowd or was from the outside because the wind blows it into the stadium, i don’t know if it was. The report also notes that i just hope they’re going to be a bit more aware of that stuff,” she said. The report also notes that she has returned to the round of 16 without dropping a set and she appears to be finding some rhythm on the court, most importantly for Sabalenka. The report also notes that the added pressure on her shoulders has perhaps been revealed elsewhere, although Sabalenka has put together a series of encouraging performances on-court.
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