Sabalenka halts US Open match over cannabis smell

2026-09-04 15:46 UTC – 2026-09-05 14:42 UTC

Neutral summary

World number one Aryna Sabalenka interrupted her third-round US Open match against Kamilla Rakhimova on Friday to complain to the umpire about a strong smell of cannabis drifting onto the Louis Armstrong Stadium court. “Someone is smoking weed. Can you do something about it? It’s so strong,” she told the chair umpire. Play resumed shortly after, and Sabalenka went on to win in straight sets, 6:3, 6:4, advancing to the fourth round. She later joked about the incident at a press conference, telling fans to “blow somewhere else” because the fast-paced game might “get you high.”

How it was framed

Outlets: 35. Countries: 15. Facts in the shared core: 6.

Publication timeline

2026-09-04 15:46 · Daily Mail (outlet profile)
Aryna Sabalenka stops play at US Open to complain about the smell of WEED after claiming a fan was 'smoking' inside Louis Armstrong stadium. TAMARA PRENN IN NEW YORK: Aryna Sabalenka was forced to stop her third-round m…
2026-09-04 16:14 · RTÉ News (outlet profile)
Sabalenka interrupts US Open match over smell of cannabis. World number one Aryna Sabalenka had an ⁠unusual interruption during her US Open third-round match on Friday, stopping play to alert the umpire to a strong smel…
2026-09-04 16:15 · The Independent (outlet profile)
‘Strong’ smell of marijuana means Aryna Sabalenka halts US Open match. The two-time defending champion called a halt at Flushing Meadows.
2026-09-04 16:40 · Channel NewsAsia (outlet profile)
Sabalenka interrupts US Open match over cannabis smell
2026-09-04 16:44 · Telegraf (outlet profile)
Sabalenka nastavlja dominaciju: Sve smo bliži najvećem derbiju na US Openu sa Ukrajinkom!. Najbolja teniserka sveta Arina Sabalenka plasirala se u četvrto kolo US Opena, pošto je sa 2:0 (6:4, 6:3) pobedila teniserku iz…
2026-09-04 16:47 · Pink (outlet profile)
Sabalenka nastavlja dominaciju: Sve smo bliži najvećem derbiju na US Openu sa Ukrajinkom. Najbolja teniserka sveta Arina Sabalenka plasirala se u četvrto kolo US Opena, pošto je sa 2:0 (6:4, 6:3) pobedila teniserku iz U…
2026-09-04 16:52 · Tanjug (outlet profile)
Sabalenka izborila plasman u osminu finala US opena
2026-09-04 16:52 · Tanjug (outlet profile)
Arina Sabalenka izborila plasman u osminu finala US opena
2026-09-04 16:57 · Sky Sports (outlet profile)
Sabalenka beats Rakhimova to reach fourth round of US Open. Aryna Sabalenka came through a tough test against Kamilla Rakhimova - particularly in the second set - to reach the fourth round of the US Open.
2026-09-04 16:57 · Sky Sports (outlet profile)
Sabalenka complains of cannabis smell during win as Alcaraz progresses. Aryna Sabalenka complained to the umpire about a strong smell of cannabis that was present duing her third-round win over Kamilla Rakhimova…
2026-09-04 17:01 · Telegraf (outlet profile)
"Neko puši travu!": Sabalenka usred meča odbila da igra, Amerikanci se pobuili, razlog je neverovatan!. Beloruska teniserka Arina Sabalenka našla se u centru pažnje na US Openu nakon što je tokom meča trećeg kola protiv…
2026-09-04 17:10 · Nova.rs (outlet profile)
Sabalenka, Kostjuk i Kristea u osmini finala US Opena. Prva teniserka sveta, Beloruskinja Arina Sabalennka, plasirala se u osminu finala US Opeja, pošto je posle dva seta pobedila Kamilu Rahimovu iz Uzbeki
2026-09-04 17:13 · The Independent (outlet profile)
Why Aryna Sabalenka stopped play during US Open match against Kamilla Rakhimova
2026-09-04 17:21 · Metropoles (outlet profile)
Sabalenka pausa jogo no US Open e reclama: “alguém está fumando maconha”. Atual bicampeã do torneio enfrentava a uzbeque Kamilla Rakhimova pela terceira rodada quando chamou a arbitragem para relatar o incômodo
2026-09-04 17:23 · Channel NewsAsia (outlet profile)
Defending champion Sabalenka extends US Open winning streak with Rakhimova win
2026-09-04 17:23 · Channel NewsAsia (outlet profile)
Defending champion Sabalenka extends US Open winning streak with Rakhimova victory
2026-09-04 17:24 · Mondo (outlet profile)
Sabalenka prekinula meč zbog marihuane: "Veoma je jako"
2026-09-04 17:33 · Times of India (outlet profile)
‘Someone is smoking weed’: Sabalenka stops US Open match mid-game — Watch. In an unexpected turn during her US Open match, world number one Aryna Sabalenka was distracted by a strong cannabis odor. Noticing the smell wh…
2026-09-04 17:54 · Kurir (outlet profile)
NEVEROVATNA SCENA NA US OPENU: Sabalenka morala da reaguje zbog marihuane
2026-09-04 17:58 · UOL (outlet profile)
Sabalenka vence Rakhimova e vai às oitavas do US Open. A tenista bielorrussa Aryna Sabalenka, número 1 do mundo, se classificou para as oitavas de final do US Open ao derrotar a uzbeque Kamilla Rakhimova (N.92) nesta se…
2026-09-04 18:20 · TASS (англ.) (outlet profile)
Defending champ Sabalenka confident cruising to Round 4 at 2026 US Open. The tournament’s two-time reigning champion is now set to play in the next round against the winner of the match between Russia’s Diana Shnaider a…
2026-09-04 18:30 · ANSA Sport (outlet profile)
Us Open: odore di marijuana, Sabalenka interrompe una battuta. La n.1 Wta si rivolge all'arbitro, "era un po' forte"
2026-09-04 18:45 · New York Post (outlet profile)
Aryna Sabalenka calls out fan for smoking weed mid-match in stunning US Open moment. Aryna Sabalenka paused her third-round match against Kamilla Rakhimova to speak to the umpire at the US Open about someone smoking wee…
2026-09-04 18:50 · La Nación (outlet profile)
Sabalenka interrumpió su partido en el US Open por un fuerte olor a marihuana que llegaba hasta la cancha. La número uno del mundo alertó a la jueza en pleno encuentro ante Kamilla Rakhimova; después ganó en dos sets y…
2026-09-04 18:51 · The Mirror (outlet profile)
Aryna Sabalenka forced to halt US Open clash after complaining that 'someone is smoking weed'. Aryna Sabalenka took on Kamilla Rakhimova in the third round of the US Open on Friday, when the WTA No. 1 was forced to halt…
2026-09-04 19:09 · Kicker (outlet profile)
Sabalenka bricht Aufschlag ab: "Jemand raucht Weed. Willst du nicht mal etwas machen?". Die Tennis-Weltranglistenerste Aryna Sabalenka hat sich während ihrer Drittrundenpartie bei den US Open wegen zu starken Marihuanag…
2026-09-04 19:36 · Nova.rs (outlet profile)
Sabalenka osetila miris marihuane na terenu: Odmah se požalila sudiji, pogledajte scenu sa US Opena VIDEO. Prva teniserka sveta Arina Sabalenka bez većih problema je savladala Kamilu Rahimovu sa 6:3, 6:4 u 3. kolu na US…
2026-09-04 19:41 · Telegraf (outlet profile)
Devojka iz našeg komšiluka ide u penziju, a nikada nije bolje igrala tenis: Prošla u osminu finala US Opena. Iako je najavila da će se na kraju ove godine penzionisati, Rumunka Sorana Kirstea igra tenis svog života i sa…
2026-09-04 20:03 · Telegraf (outlet profile)
Sabalenka pričala o marihuani celu konferenciju uz smeh: "Duvajte negde drugde, ošamutiće vas brza igra!". Svetska teniska zvezda Arina Sabalenka nasmejala je novinare na konferenciji za štampu u Njujorku, gde je otvore…
2026-09-04 20:07 · UOL (outlet profile)
Sabalenka reclama de cheiro de maconha no US Open: "É muito forte". A tenista bielorrussa Aryna Sabalenka reclamou nesta sexta-feira (4) do cheiro de maconha em quadra durante sua vitória sobre a uzbeque Kamilla Rakhimo…

Factual core

Aryna Sabalenka interrupted her match at the US Open due to a smell of cannabis on the court.
Sabalenka alerted the umpire to the cannabis smell during the match.
The match took place at the US Open.
Sabalenka is the defending champion at the US Open.
Aryna Sabalenka defeated Kamilla Rakhimova in the third round of the US Open.
Carlos Alcaraz advanced to the fourth round of the US Open.

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