Aryna Sabalenka briefly halted her US Open match against Kamilla Rakhimova because of a strong smell of cannabis before cruising into the fourth round in New York.<\/p>\n
Top seed Sabalenka raised the issue after going 3-0 up in the first set against Uzbekistan’s Rakhimova, telling umpire Eva Asderaki-Moore that “someone is smoking weed”.<\/p>\n
The Belarusian asked the umpire to intervene “because it’s so strong”.<\/p>\n
Asderaki-Moore spoke to an official on her radio and made a smoking gesture to someone behind her, before play continued.<\/p>\n
Two-time defending champion Sabalenka went on to secure a confident 6-3 6-4 victory on Louis Armstrong Stadium as she chases a fifth Grand Slam singles title.<\/p>\n
Sabalenka said afterwards she was not sure where the smell of cannabis was coming from but asked fans to be more mindful.<\/p>\n
Smoking is not permitted on site at Flushing Meadows but the smell of cannabis sometimes wafts on to court from the nearby Corona Park.<\/p>\n
It is legal to smoke it in New York for adults aged 21 and over.<\/p>\n
“It’s a bit tricky to handle that smell while you’re trying to compete at your best,” Sabalenka said.<\/p>\n
“I don’t know if it was coming from the crowd or was from the outside because the wind blows it into the stadium. <\/p>\n
“I just hope they’re going to be a bit more aware of that stuff.”<\/p>\n
Sabalenka is not the first player at this year’s US Open to complain about the smell of cannabis at Flushing Meadows.<\/p>\n