Smoke, Mirrors, and the High Price of Focus Aryna Sabalenka, world No 1 tennis star, complained about a strong cannabis smell during her third round win over Kamilla Rakhimova at the US Open.
The Belarusian athlete cited the distraction as a potential threat to her performance. The issue extends beyond the smell itself; it's also about the environment in which top athletes compete.
Tennis is a high pressure sport where even minor external influences can disrupt an athlete's game.