During her third-round match at the US Open, Aryna Sabalenka paused play to inform the umpire about a strong smell of marijuana in the stadium. At the time, she was leading 2-0 and serving in the first set against Uzbekistan’s Kamilla Rakhimova. Sabalenka approached umpire Eva Asderaki-Moore, stating, “Someone is smoking weed. Would you mind to … because it’s so strong.” While smoking is prohibited inside the venue, recreational marijuana use is legal for adults over 21 in New York.
Coming to the match, Sabalenka out-gunned Kamilla Rakhimova to reach the US Open last 16.
Sabalenka Advances with Strong Performance Against Rakhimova
World number one Aryna Sabalenka faced a challenging match against 92nd-ranked Anna Rakhimova but ultimately secured a straight-sets victory. Sabalenka broke Rakhimova in her first service game and dominated the first set, which she won in just 35 minutes. Rakhimova fought back hard in the second set, pushing Sabalenka to her limits. ‘She played incredible tennis, she really pushed me so hard in the second set,’ Sabalenka remarked after the match. ‘I’m super happy that I was able to close this match in straight sets because she’s a fighter.’ Sabalenka’s solid performance is crucial as she aims to maintain her world number one ranking in New York.
