World number one Aryna Sabalenka reached the fourth round of the US Open on Friday, defeating Uzbekistan's Kamilla Rakhimova in straight sets 6-3, 6-4 — but the match at Louis Armstrong Stadium in Flushing Meadows, New York, was briefly halted after Sabalenka alerted the umpire to a strong smell of cannabis drifting onto the court.

Sabalenka, who had broken her opponent's serve as early as the second game, stopped play during her second service game to address chair umpire Eva Asderaki-Moore. "Someone is smoking weed," she said, serving at 30-0. "Would you mind to… because it's so strong." Play resumed shortly after. Despite the distraction, Sabalenka maintained control throughout, with her powerful and well-placed groundstrokes proving too consistent for Rakhimova, who — while she had upset two-time Grand Slam champion Barbora Krejčíková in the previous round — was given no break-point opportunities in either set.

The incident reflects a recurring quirk of the US Open's unique setting. While smoking is prohibited inside the grounds of the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center, recreational cannabis is legal for adults aged 21 and over in New York state, and smoke from people in the surrounding Flushing Meadows-Corona Park — a large public park in the Queens borough of New York City — can drift into the complex when wind conditions allow. Sabalenka noted that she had noticed the smell before during the tournament, but never so strongly during a match. "It was a bit windy," she explained, adding she was unsure whether the smell was coming from inside the crowd or from the park outside.

Speaking to reporters after the match, Sabalenka struck a light-hearted tone, making clear she had no objection to people enjoying themselves — only to doing so near the courts. "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," she said with a smile. "It's a bit tricky to handle that smell while you're trying to compete at your best."

Sabalenka, who is the reigning champion at Flushing Meadows and is making her sixth consecutive appearance in the tournament's last 16, will next face American Taylor Townsend in the fourth round. The episode adds a colourful footnote to what is otherwise a serene march through the draw for the Belarusian, who remains the clear favourite to defend her title.