Aryna Sabalenka Interrupts US Open Match Over Strong Cannabis Smell
4 sources across 3 countries · United Kingdom · India · Qatar · 1 of them is linked to a state
Who reported this
- The Guardian
- Reuters
- The Indian Express
- Al Jazeera
What the colours mean
- Left
- Centre-left
- Centre
- Centre-right
- Right
- A hatched block means the outlet is affiliated with, or controlled by, a state.
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Aryna Sabalenka paused her US Open third round match against Kamilla Rakhimova to alert the chair umpire to a strong smell of cannabis drifting onto the court. Sabalenka, who eventually won the match in straight sets, told umpire Eva Asderaki-Moore that the smell was so strong it was tricky to handle while trying to compete at her best. She later clarified to reporters that she was not objecting to people enjoying themselves but requested that smoking be kept away from the tennis courts.
While smoking is prohibited inside the grounds, recreational cannabis is legal for adults 21 and older in New York. Smoke from the surrounding Flushing Meadows-Corona Park often drifts into the complex, making the odor a familiar distraction at the tournament. Sabalenka noted that the wind appeared to be carrying the smell into the stadium and stated that while she had smelled cannabis during the tournament before, it had never been this strong during a match.
Reports from center and center-left outlets focused primarily on the unusual nature of the interruption and the legality of cannabis in New York. One center-left report provided additional context regarding Sabalenka's current form, her ranking pressure, and a recent heated exchange with a reporter over her pre-tournament activities.
How each side framed it
- Centre-left
- Framed the event as an unusual interruption while providing broader context on the player's professional struggles and personal tensions.
- Centre
- Framed the event as a straightforward report on a match interruption caused by external environmental factors.
Sources
- Centre-left Al Jazeera: Sabalenka interrupts US Open match against Rakhimova over cannabis smell
- Centre Reuters: Sabalenka interrupts US Open match over cannabis smell - Reuters
- Centre-left The Guardian: ‘Someone is smoking weed’: Sabalenka halts US Open match due to cannabis smell
- Centre The Indian Express: ‘Someone’s smoking weed’: Sabalenka interrupts US Open match over cannabis smell
100% of the statements in this article were traced back to the source articles listed above.