Aryna Sabalenka complained to the umpire about a strong smell of cannabis that was present duing her third-round win over Kamilla Rakhimova at the US Open. The world No 1 came through in straight sets, beating her unseeded opponent 6-3 6-4 on Louis Armstrong Stadium, but after racing into a 3-0 lead in the opening set, Sabalenka complained to umpire Eva Asderaki-Moore at the first changeover. Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player "I was like, 'Guys, you can do whatever, you can smoke whatever, you can relax as much as you can, but please to not do it around the tennis courts'," Sabalenka told reporters afterwards.
"It's a bit tricky to handle that smell while you're trying to compete at your best." No fans were found to be smoking and ejected from the tennis grounds. Sabalenka added: "I don't know if it was coming from the crowd or was from the outside, because the wind blows it into the stadium. I just hope they're going to be a bit more aware of that stuff." US Tennis Association spokesman Brendan McIntyre said in a statement: "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 distraction didn't affect Sabalenka's form in the slightest as she didn't miss a single first serve until the seventh game of the match, in which Rakhimova would three times take her to deuce.
That would prove to be Rakhimova's only real opening in the first set, Sabalenka taking it 6-3, but she'd prove much more competitive in the second. Rakhimova came from behind four-straight times to hold serve, saving four break points along the way, before Sabalenka finally ended her resolve in the ninth game of the second set. On this occasion, Rakhimova let a 40-0 lead slip as the four-time Grand Slam champion battled back to secure the crucial break before serving things out to book her spot in the last 16.
After Sabalenka's second-round win, she cut short questions about her pre-tournament activities in an excruciating exchange with a reporter. A regular poster on social media at the various events she attends and with the brands she works, Sabalenka fired back that her off-court appearances had not come at the expense of her preparations for Flushing Meadows. Referencing that further after her victory over Rakhimova, Sabalenka added: "I completely shut down noise from outside.
"I focus on myself, and I know if I do that and work really hard I will have my chances and be able to play a great level of tennis." Trying to become the first player to win three-straight US Open titles since Serena Williams from 2012-14, Sabalenka will face American Taylor Townsend in the last 16 after she beat 13th seed Diana Shnaider 6-2 6-7 (3-7) 6-3 Jessica Pegula kept alive her bid for a maiden Grand Slam title when the third seed rallied from behind to beat fellow former US Open finalist Leylah Fernandez 1-6 6-4 6-3. The American will face Romania's Sorana Cirstea in the last 16 after the 16th seed defeated Italy Jasmine Paolini in straight sets 6-3 6-3. Defending men's champion Carlos Alcaraz continued his impressive comeback after more than four months out to a wrist injury, as he beat Wu Yibing in straight sets, 6-3 6-4 6-1, on Arthur Ashe Stadium.
The seven-time Grand Slam champion was made to work harder than the scoreline suggests, however, as he was broken back in both the first two sets by his 113th-ranked opponent. The second set, in particular, was cause for frustration for the Spaniard as he appeared to be cruising along at 2-0 up after winning five games in a row, only to again be pegged back by Wu. Alcaraz would finally earn another break of serve in the 10th game to clinch a two-set lead before he finally pulled clear in the third.
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