World number one Aryna Sabalenka had an unusual interruption during her US Open third-round match, stopping play to alert the umpire to a strong smell of cannabis drifting onto the Louis Armstrong Stadium court. Sabalenka, who had made a fast start to go 3-0 ahead before securing a straight-sets win against Uzbekistan’s Kamilla Rakhimova, raised the issue during her second service game on Friday, pointing out the smell before play resumed. While smoking is not permitted inside the grounds, recreational cannabis is legal for adults 21 and older in New York, and smoke from people in the surrounding Flushing Meadows-Corona Park can drift into the tennis complex and onto the courts.
Sabalenka said she had smelled cannabis before during the tournament but never so strongly during a match, with Friday’s wind apparently carrying the odour into the stadium. Also, because it was a bit windy,” she said. I think there is nothing else to say about weed.
I’m just asking people not to smoke it next to the tennis court.”
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