Aryna Sabalenka is the back-to-back defending US Open Champion. The Belarusian star touches down on Flushing, Queens grass and gains superpowers. But on Friday afternoon, that grass was too mighty.
“Someone is smoking weed. Do you mind? Because it’s so strong.” – Aryna Sabalenka to the umpire during the US Open
Sabalenka (No. 1) won the third-round match 6-3, 6-4. pic.twitter.com/8JIftNUPpf
— Awful Announcing (@awfulannouncing) September 4, 2026
Early in her third-round match against Kamilla Rakhimova, Aryna Sabalenka complained to the chair umpire the smell of weed from the crowd was too strong.
“I don’t know if it was, like, coming from the crowd or was from the outside because the wind blows it into the stadium,” Sabalenka said—contact high and the high of her third-round victory swirling in her cranium. “I don’t know. I just hope they’re going to be a bit more aware of that stuff.”
Mid-serve, a whiff of that loud almost buckled homegirl’s knees. A gust of that fire filled her lungs for the first time, Sabalenka, I imagine, used to that stepped-on Belarusian weed. Vladimir Putin’s picture on every mid pack—headaches, cottonmouth and an insatiable hatred of the Ukrainians included.
“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 said. “It’s a bit tricky to handle that smell while you’re trying to compete at your best.”
Kush was a “bit tricky to handle” for the reigning champ.
Welcome to NYC, baybeeee, where everything smells like hot wet trash, gasoline and lingering weed fumes. It requires Michael Phelps-caliber lungs to survive these streets.
But again, Sabalenka is the back-to-back queen of the US Open. This is her arena.
Friday, she must’ve inhaled something sticky icky. Aryna was breathing in that HEAT PACK.
Your honor, my client only smokes regs. To her, that’s fire. This LOUD? That’s unacceptable. That’ll cost her the chip.
Fingers crossed Atyna Sabalenka is locked in for the next round, fully recovered from her dust-up with the weed that had her tasting colors and seeing music.
READ NEXT: Crack Dealer Caught Smoking Crack
If you enjoyed what you read, head over to our Substack. We’ve got more content making fun of the ridiculous world we live in, sent directly to your email inbox daily.
Follow us over on TikTok, Twitter, Facebook or Instagram. Or shoot me an email at [email protected]. Let’s chat, bay-beeeee.
