‘You can smoke whatever, but not around the courts’ Sabalenka

Belarus’s Aryna Sabalenka during her third-round victory over Uzbekistan’s Kamilla Rakhimova on Friday. PIC/AFP

When it comes to marijuana-smoking tennis fans, Aryna Sabalenka has a simple request. "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," Sabalenka said on Friday after she was troubled by the smell of pot wafting over Louis Armstrong Stadium in her US Open third-round win.

"It's a bit tricky to handle that smell while you're trying to compete at your best," said Sabalenka, who at one point complained to the umpire about the powerful smell, wondering if the official could spot the offenders.

The two-time defending champ also halted her service motion at times during a 6-3, 6-4 win over Kamilla Rakhimova of Uzbekistan. Was it the sun? "No, I'm used to the sun, so that wasn't the problem," she said.

Questions about Sabalenka's pot plea to the umpire dominated a post-match press conference, where the Belarusian was asked at one point, "How much of a high are you on here compared to the other majors?"

The World No. 1 conceded that she has smelled weed previously here, but never so strong. Sabalenka's comments to the umpire seemed to incriminate the crowd. But she also postulated that the wind may have played a role.

Other key results

>> Karolina Muchova lost to Emma Navarro 3-6, 5-7
>> Jessica Pegula beat Leylah Fernandez 1-6, 6-4, 6-3
>> Daniil Medvedev beat Arthur Rinderknech 6-4, 6-4, 6-4
>> Stefanos Tsitsipas beat Jiri Lehecka 2-6, 6-1, 7-6 (7/3), 6-1
>> Ben Shelton beat Denis Shapovalov 7-6 (7/3), 6-7 (5/7), 6-3, 6-4
>> Frances Tiafoe beat Valentin Vacherot 6-4, 6-2, 6-4

1hr, 29min
Time Aryna Sabalenka needed to beat Kamilla Rakhimova on Friday

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