"Someone is smoking weed": The strange moment in Aryna Sabalenka's match
Aryna Sabalenka is known for having many skills beyond her abilities on the tennis court. The world number 1 wants to defend her title at the US Open, and this evening (Friday) she also displayed a particularly developed sense of smell. During the first set of the match against Kamilla Rakhimova in the third round, while serving in the third game, the Belarusian tennis player smelled something strange and simply could not continue playing.
Aryna Sabalenka is known for having many skills beyond her abilities on the tennis court. The world number 1 wants to defend her title at the US Open, and this evening (Friday) she also displayed a particularly developed sense of smell. During the first set of the match against Kamilla Rakhimova in the third round, while serving in the third game, the Belarusian tennis player smelled something strange and simply could not continue playing.
At one point she just giggled with embarrassment and approached chair umpire Eva Asderaki-Moore: "Someone is smoking weed. Do you mind... because the smell is so strong". After that, Asderaki-Moore spoke on the radio with one of the staff members, turned around, and made a gesture with her hands imitating smoking.
The match resumed shortly after, and Sabalenka went on to win 6:3, 6:4 — her 16th consecutive victory at the US Open.
Of course, this is not the first time that the smell of marijuana has wafted through the air at Flushing Meadows.
Smoking marijuana is prohibited on the grounds of the Billie Jean King National Tennis Center, but in New York people can smoke as they please, as the use of marijuana for recreational purposes is legal in the city. Smoke from the nearby Flushing Meadows-Corona Park can certainly reach the nearby courts and stadium.
