Sabalenka and the Cannabis Smell: When the Court Speaks Beyond the Ball

New York, late August. The Louis Armstrong Stadium was in the middle of a third-round match where Aryna Sabalenka, the world No. 1, was in complete control. She led 3-0 against Kamilla Rakhimova, serving powerfully, moving fluidly. Then, suddenly, she stopped, walked toward umpire Eva Asderaki-Moore with an unexpected complaint: a strong smell of cannabis from the stands.

Sabalenka is not one to complain about court conditions. But her decision to halt the match at such a critical moment shows a reality: even the most mentally tough players can be affected by external factors.

"It was pretty tricky," Sabalenka said after the match, trying to stay calm. "It's not always possible to compete at your best when you have to deal with things like this."

What's notable is that she still won 6-3, 6-4 with 10 aces and did not face a single break point. But the story is not just about the scoreline.

The Court and Its Noise Signals

Cannabis has been legalized in New York. In a city where this smell is no longer unusual, its presence at a Grand Slam tennis court raises questions about the boundary between personal freedom and a professional competition environment. Neither the ITF nor the WTA has specific regulations addressing odors from spectators, and umpire Asderaki-Moore, a seasoned official, could only acknowledge Sabalenka's complaint and continue the match.

I've covered many US Opens, and what I've noticed is that players constantly face "noise signals" that are not part of any coaching manual. From airplane noise to crowd chants to various scents from the stands, all can become decisive factors in a tense match.

Data from the match shows Sabalenka maintained remarkable focus. Ten aces and facing zero break points are the clearest evidence. But what interests me more is how she handled the situation: stop, complain, then return and continue playing with an unshaken spirit.

The Pressure of the No. 1 Ranking

Sabalenka has held the world No. 1 ranking for 97 weeks. But that position is now on a cliff's edge: she must win her third consecutive US Open title to retain it. If she loses before Elena Rybakina, the world No. 2, is eliminated in the semifinals, she will drop from the top spot.

This is tremendous psychological pressure. Before the tournament, Sabalenka admitted she was going through "one of the most difficult periods in years" — not reaching a final since Indian Wells and Miami. But at the US Open, she has not dropped a set. This transformation shows a rapid adaptation to hard courts, where her aggressive style thrives.

The numbers from the match against Rakhimova are the clearest evidence: 10 aces, zero break points faced. These are dream numbers for any player, and they show that Sabalenka's first-strike combination is working effectively on hard courts.

Media Events and Off-Court Stories

But Sabalenka's story at this year's US Open is not just about what happens on court. In the post-match press conference, she had a tense exchange with a reporter who asked about her off-court activities before the tournament.

"You guys are, like, a joke," Sabalenka said, visibly frustrated. "Think before you say stuff."

This moment shows that the pressure top players face comes not only from opponents on court but also from questions about their personal lives. Sabalenka, as a two-time defending champion, carries the expectations of an entire media and commercial ecosystem.

I remember my early days writing about sports, when players only needed to focus on hitting the ball. Today, a world No. 1 must be a diplomat, a commercial star, and a media icon. Sabalenka is trying to balance all these roles, and sometimes, the tension spills out.

Parallel Stories

While Sabalenka advanced past the third round amid off-court controversies, Carlos Alcaraz, the young Spaniard, is having an impressive run in his section of the draw. He won 6-3, 6-4, 6-1 against an opponent not named in the report, showing a strong return from injury.

Alcaraz represents the new generation steadily asserting its position. Meanwhile, Daniil Medvedev is also progressing deep into the tournament. These players create a multi-dimensional picture of competition at this year's US Open.

The Court Speaks Beyond the Ball

Back to the cannabis smell story. Sabalenka will face Taylor Townsend, an in-form home favorite, in the fourth round. Townsend had a memorable 2026 and always receives passionate support from the home crowd.

Will the cannabis smell appear again? Can Sabalenka maintain her focus against the pressure of the crowd and her opponent?

The answer lies in her ability to control what she cannot control. Sabalenka showed she can do that against Rakhimova. But that was only the third round. As the tournament deepens, opponents get stronger, and pressure grows — will she remain calm enough to handle the "noise signals" from the stands?

Some data doesn't need to be loud; it just needs someone patient enough to read it. And the data from this match shows Sabalenka is on another level. But tennis is not just about numbers. It's also about how people face the unexpected, the things not in the plan.

And sometimes, the smell of cannabis from the stands is also part of the match.