World No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka paused her third-round US Open match in New York after detecting a strong smell of cannabis. The incident occurred at Louis Armstrong Stadium during a contest against Kamila Rakhimova, leading officials to search the crowd for the source of the odor.
Sabalenka's 30-0 serve interrupted at Louis Armstrong Stadium
The disruption occurred during a critical moment of the match between Aryna Sabalenka and Kamila Rakhimova. As reported,Sabalenka was serving at 30-0 in the third game when she noticed an overpowering smell she identified as marijuana. The world No. 1 first alerted her coaching team in the players' box before turning to chair umpire Eva Asderaki-Moore to request an intervention.
Umpire Eva Asderaki-Moore responded by radioing tournament officials and using a snipping gesture to signal her colleagues. According to the report, US Open staff were immediately dispatched into the stands of Louis Armstrong Stadium—the second-largest showcourt at the Billie Jean King National Tennis Center—to locate the individual responsible. While the search was conducted ,the rhythm of the high-stakes third-round match was briefly halted.
The 'hash court' reputation of Court 17
This incident is not an isolated event but part of a broader pattern of olfactory distractions at the Flushing Meadows venue. The Billie Jean King National Tennis Center is situated within Flushing Meadows Corona Park, a public space where marijuana can legally be smoked. This proximity has created a recurring conflict between the relaxed laws of New York City's public parks and the strict professional standards of a Grand Slam tournament.
The issue has become so pervasive that international media, specifically Danish outlets, have nicknamed Court 17 "hash court" due to the persistent smell of cannabis. This sentiment was echoed by British player Katie Boulter, who expressed her displeasure regarding the lingering odor near Court 17 during the qualifying rounds and early stages of the tournament. Boulter noted that the smell had been a point of contention for multiple players, making it difficult to maintain focus mid-match.
USTA's struggle with Flushing Meadows Corona Park boundaries
The United States Tennis Association (USTA) finds itself in a difficult position, attempting to enforce a smoke-free environment within a facility surrounded by a public park. In a statement addressing the matter, the USTA emphasized that it cannot control activities occurring outside the boundaries of the National Tennis Center, though it remains committed to a smoke-free interior.
The USTA clarified that while marijuana is legal under New York state law, smoking is strictly prohibited on parks property, which encompasses the tennis center. To combat this, the association has entered into a collaboration with the NYPD and the Parks Department. The USTA claims this partnership has helped reduce smoking incidents near the facility's fenceline, yet the Sabalenka incident suggests that odors still penetrate the stadium walls.
Whether the NYPD can curb fenceline smoking
Despite the USTA's claims of collaboration, several critical detils remain unverified. It is currently unknown if the security sweep of Louis Armstrong Stadium actually identified and removed a smoker, or if the odor was simply drifting in from the surrounding park. Furthermore, the report does not specify whether the USTA intends to implement more robust physical barriers or air filtration systems to prevent external smells from affecting the players.
The source primarily presents the USTA's perspective on the legal limitations of their authority . There is little information regarding whether the players' union or the WTA has formally lobbied for a larger "buffer zone" around the courts to ensure that the world's top athletes are not distracted by the legal activities of park-goers .
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