New York (Sports Desk) — World No. 1 tennis player Aryna Sabalenka faced an unusual situation during her third-round match at the US Open when a strong smell of cannabis spread throughout the stadium.
According to an international news agency, during her match against Uzbekistan’s Kamilla Rakhimova at Louis Armstrong Stadium, Sabalenka briefly stopped play during the second service game and drew umpire Eva Asderaki-Moore’s attention to the smell.
Sabalenka told the umpire that the smell was very strong and that necessary action should be taken to remove it, as it was becoming difficult to concentrate on the game under the circumstances.
After the match, Sabalenka explained that she had no objection to people enjoying themselves or using cannabis, but she wished spectators would not do so near the tennis court because it affects the players’ concentration.
She said that strong winds had carried the cannabis smell from outside into the stadium. According to Sabalenka, she had noticed a similar smell earlier during the tournament as well, but this time its intensity was unusual.