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Sabalenka Interrupts US Open Match over Cannabis Smell
The world number one paused play after reporting a strong cannabis smell, an interruption Reuters said came during her third-round match.
On Friday, world number one Aryna Sabalenka stopped her third-round US Open match at Louis Armstrong Stadium to alert umpire Eva Asderaki-Moore about a strong smell of cannabis drifting onto the court.
Recreational cannabis is legal for adults over 21 in New York, and smoke from surrounding Flushing Meadows-Corona Park frequently drifts into the tennis complex, explaining the recurring distraction for players.
Sabalenka told umpire Eva Asderaki-Moore, "Someone is smoking weed," adding, "Would you mind to... because it's so strong." Asderaki-Moore then made a smoking gesture to an official on her radio.
Before the interruption during her second service game, the two-time defending champion had established a 2-0 lead against Kamilla Rakhimova; play resumed after the brief exchange with officials.
While smoking is prohibited on the Flushing Meadows tournament site, the cannabis odor has become a familiar recurring issue for athletes competing at the event this week.
Aryna Sabalenka temporarily interrupted her match in the third round of the US Open on Friday. The reason was a strong smell of cannabis in the Louis Armstrong Stadium. The Belarusian eventually advanced easily to the last sixteen.
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