'Someone Is Smoking Weed!': Aryna Sabalenka Stuns Umpire With Explosive Complaint Mid-Match During US Open 2026 | Video
Aryna Sabalenka was involved in an unusual moment during her third-round match at the 2026 US Open after noticing a strong smell of weed at Louis Armstrong Stadium. The world No. 1 was facing Kamilla Rakhimova when she appeared distracted by the odour during the match. Sabalenka alerted chair umpire Eva Asderaki-Moore about the smell and asked officials to take action. “Someone is smoking weed,”…
Aryna Sabalenka, the world No. 1 tennis player, encountered an unexpected interruption during her third-round match at the 2026 US Open when she noticed an overwhelming smell of marijuana at Louis Armstrong Stadium. The Belarusian star was facing Kamilla Rakhimova when she became distracted by the odor mid-game. Sabalenka immediately alerted chair umpire Eva Asderaki-Moore about the smell, asking officials to take action, stating, "Someone is smoking weed.
Do you mind? Because it's so strong." Tournament staff were promptly informed of the issue. Despite the brief disruption, Sabalenka quickly regained her concentration and proceeded to win her match against Rakhimova, securing a straight-sets victory of 6-3, 6-4 and advancing to the fourth round of the US Open. The incident, while unusual, is not the first time Sabalenka has experienced such a distraction at a major tournament, as she mentioned previously encountering a stronger smell of cannabis during a prior US Open match.
Regardless, the player indicated that she was not bothered by the request for spectators to avoid smoking around the tennis courts, as the smell can make it challenging for competitors to perform at their best.
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