Full Breakdown
Sabalenka Pauses US Open Match Over Cannabis Odour
9/5/2026, 7:47:49 PM
Core Event
On September 4, 2026, world No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka halted her third-round women's singles match at Louis Armstrong Stadium after a strong smell of cannabis drifted onto the court. Play resumed after a brief pause, and Sabalenka secured a 6-3, 6-4 victory to reach the round of 16.
Background & Context
Recreational cannabis has been legal for adults 21 and older in New York since 2021, but the United States Tennis Association (USTA) Billie Jean King National Tennis Center is a smoke-free facility. New York City health regulations also prohibit smoking in parks, event spaces and sports arenas. In recent years, players—including Nick Kyrgios, Maria Sakkari and Britain’s Katie Boulter—have reported cannabis odour drifting from the surrounding Flushing Meadows-Corona Park onto outer courts, prompting growing concern among competitors.
Data & Statistics
- Match score: Sabalenka def. Rakhimova 6-3, 6-4.
- Winning streak: 16 consecutive matches at the US Open, the longest active run since Serena Williams.
- Service performance: 10 aces, no break points faced until the seventh game of the second set.
- Duration: 1 hour 29 minutes, a minute longer than Sabalenka’s second-round match.
Official Statements & Responses
He noted cooperation with the NYPD and Parks Department to reduce smoking near the tournament’s fenceline.
Criticism & Opposition
Former world No. Katie Boulter, a British player, also labelled the smell “distracting” and said she would not want it during a match. These comments highlight tension between New York’s legal cannabis environment and the expectations of a smoke-free Grand Slam venue.
Why It Matters
The incident underscores a practical challenge for tournament organisers: enforcing a smoke-free policy when legal cannabis use outside the grounds can affect on-court conditions. Persistent complaints could pressure the USTA to adopt stricter perimeter controls or clearer communication with nearby park users, influencing future event-hosting agreements and the public image of the US Open.
Conflicting Reports & Gaps
No fan was identified or ejected for smoking, and officials could not confirm whether the odour originated from the crowd or was carried in by wind. The lack of a definitive source leaves the exact cause of the interruption unresolved.
Verbatim Quotes
- “I was, like, Guys, you can do whatever, you can smoke whatever, you can relax as much as you can, but please, do not do it around the tennis courts,” — Aryna Sabalenka, alert the chair
- “I don't know if it was, like, coming from the crowd or was from the outside because the wind blows it into the stadium,” — Aryna Sabalenka, alert the chair
- “Someone is smoking weed, so do you mind … because it’s so strong,” — Aryna Sabalenka, alert the chair
- “Someone is smoking weed. Would you mind to [tell them to deal with it] because it’s so strong.” — Aryna Sabalenka, alert the chair
- “You get high, it makes [tennis] a little more entertaining,” — Tre Davidson, a manager at a nearby dispensary, Silk Road
