Aryna Sabalenka halts US Open match due to cannabis smell, advances to fourth round
Consensus Summary
Aryna Sabalenka advanced to the fourth round of the US Open in New York after halting her match to complain about a strong cannabis smell on the court. She defeated Kamilla Rakhimova 6-3, 6-4, citing the distraction as unusually strong during her years competing in New York. Sabalenka, the two-time defending champion and former 2021 men’s singles champion, has held the No 1 ranking for 97 weeks and is aiming for her third consecutive US Open title. Meanwhile, Carlos Alcaraz and Daniil Medvedev, both 2021 US Open champions, also reached the fourth round, with Alcaraz returning from a four-and-a-half month injury layoff. The event has seen multiple players advance, including Tommy Paul, Jessica Pegula, and Sorana Cîrstea, with Sabalenka’s focus now shifting to her next match against Taylor Townsend. The cannabis smell incident has become a recurring issue at the tournament, with Sabalenka urging spectators to avoid smoking near the courts.
✓ Verified by 2+ sources
Key details reported by multiple sources:
- Aryna Sabalenka reached the fourth round of the 2026 US Open after a 6-3, 6-4 win over Kamilla Rakhimova
- Sabalenka complained about a strong cannabis smell during her match at the US Open
- Sabalenka is the two-time defending champion (2021 men’s singles champion) and has held the No 1 ranking for 97 weeks
- Carlos Alcaraz, the 2021 men’s singles champion, reached the fourth round after defeating Wu Yibing 6-3, 6-4, 6-1
- Daniil Medvedev, the 2021 men’s singles champion, reached the fourth round with a 6-4, 6-4, 6-4 victory over the 29th seed Arthur Rinderknech
- Tommy Paul, the 20th seed, advanced to the fourth round after defeating the 15th seed Alexander Bublik
- Sabalenka referenced her back-to-back wins at Indian Wells and Miami in March
- The US Open is being held in New York
Points of Difference
Details reported by only one source:
- Sabalenka had a four-and-a-half month injury layoff and returned at the beginning of April
- Sabalenka clashed with a reporter about pre-tournament obligations, calling them a 'joke' and saying 'Think before you say stuff'
- Sabalenka’s No 1 ranking is at risk unless she wins her third US Open title in a row and Elena Rybakina loses before the semi-finals
- Taylor Townsend, a home favorite, reached the fourth round after defeating the 15th seed Diana Shnaider 6-2, 6-7 (3), 6-3
- Sabalenka served 10 aces and faced zero break points in her win over Rakhimova
- Jessica Pegula, the 2024 US Open runner-up, reached the fourth round after defeating Leylah Fernandez 1-6, 6-4, 6-3
- Sorana Cîrstea, the 16th seed, advanced to the fourth round with a 6-3, 6-3 win over the 19th-seeded Jasmine Paolini
- Ukraine’s Marta Kostyuk, seeded 11th in New York, advanced to the fourth round with a 6-3, 6-2 victory over Ekaterina Alexandrova
- Carlos Alcaraz’s match-winning streak at majors is now 17, following his 2021 US Open win and February Australian Open triumph
- Sabalenka is the top seed at the US Open
Where the reporting differs
Details that conflict, or appear in only some outlets:
- The Guardian lists Sabalenka as the 15th seed in one instance and the 20th seed in another, while ABC lists her as the top seed
- The Guardian mentions Sabalenka’s 2021 men’s singles champion status but does not specify her 2024 US Open runner-up status, which ABC explicitly states
- ABC states Sabalenka is the top seed, while the Guardian does not mention her seeding status explicitly beyond the 15th and 20th seed references for others
Source Articles
‘Someone is smoking weed’: Sabalenka halts US Open match due to cannabis smell
‘It’s tricky to handle when you’re trying to compete’ Alcaraz into fourth round after straight sets victory Aryna Sabalenka briefly stopped her match at the US Open to complain about the strong smell of cannabis on her court as she comfortably reached the fourth round in New York. Sabalenka, the two-time defending champion, continued her attempts to rebuild her form as she overcame a challenging test from Kamilla Rakhimova before winning 6-3, 6-4. Continue reading...
Sabalenka interrupts US Open match over cannabis smell
Aryna Sabalenka encounters a distracting odour during her US Open third-round victory over Kamilla Rakhimova in New York.
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