Defending champion Aryna Sabalenka paused her third-round encounter against Kamilla Rakhimova on 4 September 2026 after detecting a potent smell of cannabis wafting across Louis Armstrong Stadium. Despite the interruption, the top seed progressed comfortably into the fourth round with a 6-3 6-4 victory, extending her winning streak at Flushing Meadows to 16 consecutive matches and reaching the round of 16 without dropping a set.
The incident occurred early in the match when Sabalenka was serving at 30-0 in the second service game. She alerted umpire Eva Asderaki-Moore to the distraction, stating that
someone is smoking weedand requesting intervention
because it's so strong. According to reports, Asderaki-Moore communicated with officials via radio and made a smoking gesture toward the area behind her before play resumed. After the match, Sabalenka described her interaction with the umpire with a laugh, saying
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. It's a bit tricky to handle that smell while you're trying to compete at your best.
Sabalenka dominated her Uzbek opponent with characteristic power, dropping only four points on serve during the opening set. Although Rakhimova competed more effectively in the second set, Sabalenka secured the decisive break at 5-4 and closed out the match without facing a single break point. She struck 10 aces compared to Rakhimova's two, delivering what she described as a stellar serving performance that marked an encouraging step in her tournament.
Where was the smell coming from?
After the match, Sabalenka acknowledged uncertainty about the odour's origin but urged greater awareness from spectators and the public. She noted that the smell was stronger than she had ever experienced during her years competing in New York.
I don't know if it was coming from the crowd or was from the outside because the wind blows it into the stadium. I don't know. I just hope they're going to be a bit more aware of that stuff.
Smoking is prohibited on the tournament grounds at Flushing Meadows, yet the smell frequently drifts onto courts from the adjacent Corona Park. While recreational cannabis use is legal in New York for adults aged 21 and over, the United States Tennis Association maintains that marijuana smoking is not permitted on the parks property, including the tennis center, and deploys security and guest-services staff when smoking is reported.
Is this a recurring problem at the US Open?
Sabalenka is far from the first player to raise this concern during the tournament. Britain's Katie Boulter previously complained about the marijuana odour, with reports indicating that the smell has often been most noticeable on outdoor courts near Corona Park, with Boulter having previously singled out Court 17. Fellow British players Harriet Dart and Francesca Jones have also noticed the odour during their matches. In previous years, prominent players including Novak Djokovic and Alexander Zverev have similarly complained about the issue.
This marks part of a broader pattern of disruption at the tournament. Earlier in the week, British tennis players at the US Open complained about marijuana smoke drifting from Corona Park onto outdoor practice courts, highlighting how the issue extends beyond match play. Cannabis legalization in New York has made the problem more visible, though the USTA has consistently maintained that smoking is prohibited on tournament grounds.
What does Sabalenka's victory mean for her tournament prospects?
The win represents a significant step in Sabalenka's pursuit of a historic third consecutive US Open singles title. If she succeeds, she would become the first woman since Serena Williams, who won from 2012 to 2014, to achieve this feat. At 28 years old, Sabalenka also needs to win the tournament to retain her world number one ranking, which she has held for 97 weeks, as Elena Rybakina closes in on the top spot.
The victory comes as Sabalenka works to rebuild her form after a difficult stretch. She had failed to reach a final since winning Indian Wells and Miami back-to-back in March, and arrived in New York in some of her most challenging form for years. However, her performance in the early rounds suggests she is finding rhythm on the court. The win also came amid off-court scrutiny when, after her dominant second-round victory over Polina Iatcenko, Sabalenka clashed with a reporter in her post-match press conference. When the reporter described her week before the US Open as
parties and fun, Sabalenka responded forcefully:
You guys are, like, a joke. 'Parties, fun...' like, why would you even say that? Why would you even think about that? What kind of question is that? Just because I posted, like, some activities with brands, and you think that I've been partying, not training?She concluded the exchange by urging the reporter to
Think before you say stuff.
What happens next?
In the fourth round, Sabalenka will face American Taylor Townsend, who defeated 15th seed Diana Shnaider 6-2, 6-7 (3), 6-3 to advance. Townsend followed up her strong run to the fourth round in the previous year with another excellent tournament in New York. The fourth-round matches are scheduled for 6-7 September 2026. The women's singles quarter-finals are scheduled for 8-9 September 2026, with the tournament continuing its accelerated schedule through the final stages.
Other third and fourth-round results
American third seed Jessica Pegula advanced to the fourth round by mounting a comeback against Canadian 31st seed Leylah Fernandez. After losing the opening set 1-6 in under 30 minutes, Pegula regrouped to win 6-4 6-3. Fernandez had displayed the form that carried her to the 2021 US Open final, where she lost to Emma Raducanu, but Pegula's improved patience and footwork proved decisive.
Pegula saved two break points at the start of the deciding set before breaking in the next game and securing victory with a backhand volley.
I wasn't moving my feet up to the ball, and I was a little lazy to start off, the 32-year-old reflected.
I was going to have to dig deep. I'm glad I was able to find somewhere there in the second set to turn it around.Pegula, who lost the US Open final two years ago to Sabalenka, will next face Romanian 16th seed Sorana Cirstea, who defeated Italian 19th seed Jasmine Paolini 6-3 6-3.
In the men's draw, defending champion Carlos Alcaraz continued to build confidence on his return from a four-and-a-half month injury layoff, defeating Wu Yibing of China 6-3, 6-4, 6-1 to reach the fourth round. Alcaraz, who had not competed since injuring his right wrist in early April, had to hold his nerve during tight moments in the first two sets but elevated his game decisively.
To be honest, I'm better than I thought. Physically, I thought I was going to be bad after the first match but I'm recovering really well, I'm doing great things off the court and I'm in a good shape and right now I think my level is good. I've got the rhythm of the competition. Every time I step on to the court, I give it my all.Alcaraz will next face 20th seed Tommy Paul, an American player who overcame 15th seed Alexander Bublik 6-4, 3-6, 6-7(4), 6-1, 6-3.
Daniil Medvedev, the 2021 men's singles champion, also continued to find his feet in New York as he reached the fourth round with a 6-4, 6-4, 6-4 victory over 29th seed Arthur Rinderknech.
