New Delhi, Sept. 6 -- Aryna Sabalenka's third-round campaign at the US Open was briefly interrupted by an unusual distraction on Saturday when the defending champion complained about the smell of marijuana coming from the stands.

The incident unfolded inside Louis Armstrong Stadium in New York during Sabalenka's match against Uzbekistan's Kamilla Rakhimova. Sabalenka was serving in the third game and leading 30-0 when she turned towards the chair umpire and raised the issue.

The world No. 1 pointed towards the crowd and said she believed someone was smoking cannabis.

"Someone is smoking weed," the Belarusian said as she approached the chair umpire.

She then asked officials to intervene, saying the smell had become difficult to ignore....