NEW YORK (AP) — Aryna Sabalenka was finally challenged by the U.S. Open — by her opponent and by the smell of marijuana. Jessica Pegula was tested as well.
Both players overcame their troubles to reach the fourth round and keep alive the chances of a third straight meeting on the final weekend.
Sabalanka beat Kamilla Rakhimova 6-3, 6-4 on Friday. The No. 1 seed was pushed in a second set that lasted 54 minutes — a minute longer than her entire previous match.
“Second she played incredible tennis,” Sabalenka said. “She really pushed me so hard in the second set and I love when they bring their best tennis because they really push me to improve.”
Trying to become the first player to win three straight U.S. Open titles since Serena Williams from 2012-14, Sabalenka will face either No. 15 seed Diana Shnaider or Taylor Townsend in the round of 16.
Williams, who is playing at the U.S. Open for the first time since 2022, will team with sister Venus to play a first-round doubles match against Hao-Ching Chan and Maya Joint, who beat Serena in singles play at Wimbledon this summer.
Sabalenka was serving in the third game of her match in Louis Armstrong Stadium. She tossed the ball but then let it fall to the court. She did the same thing on the next point, with something clearly bothering her.
She then approached the chair to ask for help because she smelled marijuana.
“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, when asked what she was thinking at the time. “It’s a bit tricky to handle that smell while you’re trying to compete at your best.”
Defending men’s champion Carlos Alcaraz also was in action Friday.
Pegula, the No. 3 seed, fought back to beat 2021 runner-up Leylah Fernandez 1-6, 6-4, 6-3. Pegula, who lost to Sabalenka in the 2024 final and again last year in the semifinals, had a dismal start in which she put only 5 of 16 first serves in during the first set.
Pegula advanced to face Sorana Cirstea, the 36-year-old from Romania who is contemplating retirement after this season. She will have at least one more Grand Slam match after the No. 16 seed beat No. 19 Jasmine Paolini 6-3, 6-3.
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