Strong marijuana smell briefly halts Aryna Sabalenka’s US Open match

Aryna Sabalenka was leading 2-0 and serving in the first set when she suddenly stopped her US Open match and turned to her team. The world number one then approached umpire Eva Asderaki-Moore with a complaint: “Someone is smoking weed.”

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Someone is smoking weed.

“Would you mind to ... because it’s so strong,” Sabalenka said. The umpire spoke to an official by radio and made a smoking gesture before play resumed on Louis Armstrong Stadium.

Sabalenka later won the match against Kamilla Rakhimova 6-3, 6-4. Afterward, she said spectators could smoke elsewhere, but not near the tennis courts. “It’s a bit tricky to handle that smell while you’re trying to compete at your best,” she said, adding that wind may have carried the odor from outside the stadium or from the crowd.

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It’s a bit tricky to handle that smell while you’re trying to compete at your best.

The marijuana smell had reportedly become an issue around Flushing Meadows during the week, although it had generally been associated with outside courts near Corona Park. Smoking is prohibited on the site. The USTA said it could not control what happened beyond the grounds of the Billie Jean King National Tennis Center, but remained vigilant in preserving the facility as smoke-free.

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If they’re gonna keep smoking, I might get high!

Sabalenka joked when asked how high she felt after the match: “If they’re gonna keep smoking, I might get high!” British number one Katie Boulter had also described the smell as distracting. Sabalenka’s victory sent her into the fourth round, while third seed Jessica Pegula also advanced after recovering to beat Leylah Fernandez 1-6, 6-4, 6-3.

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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.