Sabalenka Complains About Smell of Marijuana During US Open Win

ESPN ^ | Sep 4, 2026

[nickcarraway]

Aryna Sabalenka finally found something that could stop her at the US Open: the smell of marijuana.

The two-time defending champion complained to the chair umpire that it was bothering her early in her third-round victory over Kamilla Rakhimova on Friday. Sabalenka said she had never smelled the odor so strong as she did while serving early in the match.

"I don't know if it was, like, coming from the crowd or was from the outside because the wind blows it into the stadium," Sabalenka said. "I don't know. I just hope they're going to be a bit more aware of that stuff." Sabalenka was serving in the third game of the match in Louis Armstrong Stadium. She tossed the ball but then let it fall to the court. She did the same thing on the next point, with something clearly bothering her.

---

TOPICS: Sports
KEYWORDS: marijuana; queens; tennis; usopen

[Ex-Con777]

If it was cigarette smoke, drones would have been flying overhead directing the SWAT team to its source.

Why does weed have Constitutional rights and tobacco does not?

EC

[Track9]

Good point.

[Scrambler Bob]

the overpowering amount of marijuana smoke as she walks anywhere in NYC.
= = =

But we know that CO2 is causing global warming.

The smell of CO2 is much, much more overpowering than pot smoke.

In fact, stop inhaling CO2. Your problems will be over soon.

[Scrambler Bob]

That stink is everywhere in cities now.
= = =

And smelling it on freeways - - - what does that mean?

[bankwalker]

whatever happened to contact highs?