World number one Aryna Sabalenka experienced an unusual interruption during her third-round match against Kamilla Rakhimova at the US Open. While leading 3-0 in the first set, Sabalenka approached chair umpire Eva Asderaki-Moore to report that the smell of cannabis was present on the court.

Reports from the match indicate that Sabalenka’s tone was lighthearted; she was observed smiling and laughing while discussing the issue with the official. The match continued shortly after the brief exchange, and Sabalenka ultimately defeated Rakhimova 6-3, 6-4 to advance to the fourth round of the tournament.

While all outlets confirm the incident occurred, they differ in how they characterize the atmosphere of the moment. The Guardian provides the most detail regarding the specific dialogue, noting that Sabalenka asked the umpire, “Someone is smoking weed, do you mind… because it’s so strong.” Al Jazeera and Sky Sports report the event more concisely, focusing on the fact that the match was stopped rather than the specific interaction between the player and the umpire.