Overview
- On Sept. 4, world No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka paused her third‑round match at Louis Armstrong Stadium and alerted chair umpire Eva Asderaki‑Moore that the smell of marijuana was “so strong.”
- The umpire radioed tournament staff, who moved into the crowd to locate the source but did not identify or eject anyone and play resumed within minutes.
- The U.S. Tennis Association reiterated that the Billie Jean King National Tennis Center is smoke‑free and that security and guest services enforce that rule when alerted.
- Players and reporters say the problem is recurring because the tennis complex sits inside Flushing Meadows–Corona Park and wind can carry smoke onto courts such as Court 17, making concentration and performance difficult.
- The incident highlights a tension between New York’s legal recreational cannabis use and the USTA’s on‑site ban, and it could prompt the tournament to review crowd monitoring, messaging to fans and other measures to protect on‑court conditions.