World No. 1 Sabalenka stops match over strong cannabis smell in stands

NEW YORK: World No. 1 tennis star Aryna Sabalenka was briefly forced to pause her match after a strong smell believed to be cannabis drifted towards the court, creating an unusual interruption during the contest.

Sabalenka noticed the smell while playing and appeared visibly distracted by it. She then approached the umpire and pointed out the strong odour coming from the spectator area.

“There’s such a strong smell here. Someone is smoking cannabis,” Sabalenka told the umpire, according to reports.

The umpire responded by acknowledging that spectators could smoke cigarettes in permitted areas but stressed that smoking around the tennis court was not acceptable.

The unusual exchange quickly became one of the talking points surrounding the match, with the incident highlighting an issue that can be difficult for players to ignore during high-pressure contests.

Professional tennis requires players to maintain intense concentration, particularly during crucial points. Strong smells, loud noises or movement in the stands can sometimes disrupt a player’s rhythm.

Sabalenka, one of the biggest names in women’s tennis, has developed a reputation for her powerful style and intense on-court personality. Her reaction to the unexpected smell therefore attracted considerable attention from fans following the match.

The incident also sparked amusement and discussion among tennis followers, many of whom were surprised to see an international tennis match temporarily interrupted for such an unusual reason.

While smoking rules vary between venues, spectators are generally expected to follow stadium regulations and avoid behaviour that could interfere with players.

For Sabalenka, however, the message was straightforward: whatever is happening in the stands, the tennis court should remain a place where players can focus without distractions.