‘Someone is smoking weed’: Sabalenka stops US Open match mid-game — Watch
Tennis star Aryna Sabalenka briefly halted her US Open match after complaining about the smell of cannabis drifting into the stadium. The incident highlights a recurring issue at the tournament due to its proximity to a park where recreational marijuana use is legal.
Why it matters
The intersection of local drug laws and major international sporting events creates unique operational challenges for tournament organizers.
World No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka encountered an unusual distraction during her US Open third-round match on Friday when a strong cannabis smell reached the court at Louis Armstrong Stadium.Sabalenka was facing Uzbekistan’s Kamilla Rakhimova and had made a fast start, leading 3-0 when she briefly stopped play during her second service game. She approached chair umpire Eva Asderaki-Moore and pointed out the strong odour.Sabalenka alerts umpire during matchSabalenka told the umpire: "Someone is smoking weed. Would you mind to... because it's so strong."Asderaki-Moore immediately contacted tournament officials over the complaint and made a smoking gesture to alert staff. Members of the US Open team then moved into the stands to try to locate the source of the smell.The interruption was brief and Sabalenka quickly returned her attention to the match.
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