US Open 2026: Noisy and Smelly with Cannabis

The image of Aryna Sabalenka stopping play midway because of the cannabis smell drifting from the park next to the US Open 2026 court has left many fans puzzled. In the second set, when she was leading 3-0 in her service game, Sabalenka signaled to the umpire to pause the match to complain. This was not the first time a top female player had to stop play due to environmental issues. But this time, it has been mentioned much more. The pungent smoke spread with the wind, making the atmosphere on Court 17 stuffy. Noise from the crowd outside the park also disrupted the rhythm of the match. This is a story about how external environment is affecting athletes' concentration.