Aryna Sabalenka calls out fan for smoking weed mid-match in stunning US Open moment
Aryna Sabalenka defeated two opponents on Friday: Ukrainian Kamilla Rakhimova and the strong odor of marijuana.
Read more Saylor Hayes autopsy results released days after parents arrested, extradited
The top-ranked women’s player in the world paused her third-round U.S. Open match inside Louis Armstrong Stadium in the first set after smelling weed.
Leading 3-0 at the time, on her way to an easy 6-3, 6-4 victory in the one hour, 29 minute match, Sabalenka complained to chair umpire Eva Asderaki-Moore about it.
“I was, like, ‘Guys, you can do whatever, you can smoke whatever, you can relax as much as you can, but please, do not do it around the tennis courts,’” she said later. “It’s a bit tricky to handle that smell while you’re trying to compete at your best.”
Recreational marijuana use is legal in New York City.
Asderaki-Moore spoke to an official through her hand-held radio and made a smoking gesture to someone behind her. It was uncertain where the smell was coming from after security searched the area.
“While we can’t control what takes place off the grounds of the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center, we continue to be vigilant as we maintain this facility as a smoke free environment,” the USTA said in a statement. “This includes enforcement by our security and guest services teams when they are made aware of any individual that may be smoking, making them aware that although it may be legal in NY, that smoking is not permitted on parks property including the tennis center. We constantly work with the NYPD and Parks Department, and we believe this has helped to decrease any smoking near our fenceline.”
Sabalenka, a two-time U.S. Open champion who has now won 16 matches in a row in Flushing Meadows, fielded several questions on the smell of reefer. It wasn’t the first time she’s noticed it, but the strength of the scent on Friday was significant.
“Because it was a bit windy, I don’t know if it was coming from the crowd or was from the outside because the wind blew it into the stadium,” she said. “I just hope they’re going to be a bit more aware of that stuff.”
Sabalenka had fun with the topic, smiling throughout her press conference which was dominated by the issue. When one reporter tried to delve deeper into the matter, Sabalenka playfully stopped him.
Read more Inside Lindsay Clancy’s life at psych hospital where she’ll remain following mistrial
“More about the weed? Come on, guys,” she said. “You were the one who was smoking, maybe?”
When another tried to change the subject, asking Sabalenka how much of a high she gets playing at the U.S. Open compared to other tournaments, she laughed.
“High? The level? Now I can only hear the weed stuff,” Sabalenka said. “If they’re gonna keep smoking, I might get high.”
Third-seeded American Jessica Pegula was asked about her experience at the Open in terms of smelling marijuana. She said that part of what makes the tournament fun is it is at times “all over the place and chaotic.”
“Obviously the weed thing, I don’t know how you really stop that,” she said.
So far, Sabalenka’s press conferences have been more entertaining than her matches. In three rounds, she has yet to drop a set. After her second-round victory, she snapped at a reporter for asking her about her mood now that the tournament started, after a week of “parties and fun and stuff like that.”
Sabalenka didn’t like the question.
“You guys are, like, a joke. Parties, fun… like, why would you even say that? Why would you even think about that? Like, what kind of question is that?” the Belarusian ssuperstar said. “Just because I posted, like, some activities with brands, and you think that I’ve been partying, not training?”
Someone was partying during her match, and it served as a distraction to Sabalenka.
Read more ‘Wheel of Fortune’ announcer Jim Thornton fired after in-flight pedophilia chatroom incident
