World number one Aryna Sabalenka briefly stopped her US Open fourth-round match against Kamilla Rakhimova to complain about a strong smell of cannabis, asking umpire Eva Asderaki-Moore to intervene as play was interrupted. The incident highlights a recurring issue at Flushing Meadows, where smoking is banned on-site but the smell drifts in from nearby Corona Park, where cannabis use is legal for over-21s in New York; several other players, including Britain's Katie Boulter, have previously raised similar complaints.

Despite the disruption, Sabalenka went on to win 6-3 6-4, extending her winning run at the tournament to 16 consecutive matches as she bids to become the first woman since Serena Williams to complete a US Open hat-trick. She served 10 aces and faced no break points, and will next play American Taylor Townsend. Elsewhere, Jessica Pegula fought back from a set down to beat Leylah Fernandez, while seventh seed Karolina Muchova became the highest-ranked women's casualty so far, losing to Emma Navarro.