Defending champion Aryna Sabalenka successfully navigated a bizarre distraction to secure her place in the fourth round of the 2026 US Open. The top seed, currently chasing her fifth Grand Slam singles title, defeated Uzbekistan’s Kamilla Rakhimova 6-3, 6-4 on Louis Armstrong Stadium.
The match was briefly halted early in the first set when Sabalenka, leading 3-0, approached umpire Eva Asderaki-Moore to report a strong smell of cannabis. The Belarusian requested intervention, telling the official that “someone is smoking weed” and that the odor was “so strong.” Asderaki-Moore subsequently communicated with an official via radio and made a smoking gesture toward the area behind her before play resumed.
While smoking is prohibited on the Flushing Meadows grounds, the scent of cannabis occasionally drifts into the courts from the adjacent Corona Park. Although cannabis use is legal for adults 21 and older in New York, Sabalenka noted that the smell was difficult to manage while competing at a high level. She expressed hope that spectators would be more mindful, though she remained uncertain whether the odor originated from the crowd or outside the stadium walls.
Sabalenka is not the first player to voice such concerns at this year’s tournament, with Katie Boulter, Harriet Dart, and Francesca Jones also reporting similar distractions. The issue has also been noted by players like Novak Djokovic and Alexander Zverev in previous years. Despite the interruption, Sabalenka maintained her momentum, serving 10 aces and avoiding a single break point throughout the match. This victory marks her 16th consecutive win at the venue as she attempts to become the first woman to win three consecutive US Open titles since Serena Williams between 2012 and 2014. She is now set to face American Taylor Townsend in the next round.
In other action, third seed Jessica Pegula kept her hopes for a maiden Grand Slam title alive by overcoming a slow start against Canadian 31st seed Leylah Fernandez. After dropping the first set in under 30 minutes, the 32-year-old American rallied to secure a 1-6, 6-4, 6-3 victory. Pegula admitted she was “a little lazy” at the start of the match but managed to turn the tide by playing with greater patience and securing a crucial break late in the second set.
After saving two break points early in the third set, Pegula broke Fernandez’s serve and eventually sealed the win with a backhand volley. She will next compete against Romanian 16th seed Sorana Cirstea, who advanced following a 6-3, 6-3 win over Italian 19th seed Jasmine Paolini. The report also notes that it’s a bit tricky to handle that smell while you’re trying to compete at your best,” Sabalenka said. The report also notes that i don’t know if it was coming from the crowd or was from the outside because the wind blows it into the stadium. The report also notes that i just hope they’re going to be a bit more aware of that stuff. The report also notes that dropping just four points on serve in a confident opening set, the 28-year-old showcased her trademark power from the start against Rakhimova. The report also notes that although Rakhimova fought well in the second set, Sabalenka secured the crucial break to go 5-4 up before safely serving out victory. The report also notes that she will face crowd favourite Taylor Townsend for a place in the quarter-finals after the American beat Russian 15th seed Diana Shnaider 6-2 6-7 (3-7) 6-3. The report also notes that where she lost to Emma Raducanu, as she raced through the first set in under 30 minutes, fernandez showed glimpses of the form that took her to the 2021 US Open final. The report also notes that and I was a little lazy to start off,” Pegula, 32, said, i wasn’t moving my feet up to the ball.
