Aryna Sabalenka paused her US Open third-round contest with Uzbekistan’s Kamilla Rakhimova after a strong odour of marijuana drifted across the court.
The world number one, already 3-0 ahead in the opening set, told umpire Eva Asderaki-Moore that “someone is smoking weed,” urging her to act “because it’s so strong”.
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Asderaki-Moore radioed another official and gestured towards someone seated behind her to signal a smoking break, after which the match resumed.
Last month, Britain’s Katie Boulter complained about the smell, saying she was “not a huge fan of it”.
She said: “I know a lot of players have complained on some of the specific courts.
“I’ve played on one before, and I did smell it during my match.
“It’s something that I wouldn’t like to smell in the middle of my match. I’m trying to focus, and then obviously, it takes you out of the moment, and you really don’t want to.
“You don’t need distractions. So yeah, I wasn’t a huge fan of it.”
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In previous editions of the tournament, Novak Djokovic and Alexander Zverev were among those who voiced similar complaints.
Although smoking of any kind is banned within the grounds of the Billie Jean King National Tennis Centre, cannabis fumes frequently drift onto the courts.
Recreational cannabis use is legal in New York state for adults aged 21 and above.
The interruption did little to knock the Sabalenka off her stride.
The two-time defending champion swept to a commanding 6-3, 6-4 victory as she continues her pursuit of a fifth Grand Slam singles crown.
Sabalenka’s powerful baseline game was evident from the outset, as she conceded a mere four points on her own serve during a ruthless first set.
The Belarusian hit 10 aces across the match, compared with just two from her opponent and remarkably did not face a single break point throughout the entire contest.
Rakhimova showed greater resistance in the second set, but Sabalenka proved too strong when it mattered most.
She earned the decisive break to move 5-4 ahead before closing out the match on her own serve without difficulty.
The triumph extended Sabalenka’s remarkable winning run at Flushing Meadows to 16 consecutive matches.
She is now aiming to become the first woman to claim three successive US Open singles titles since Serena Williams achieved the feat between 2012 and 2014.
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