Sabalenka Distraction by Marijuana Smell | California News

0:00It's September 7th. Welcome to California News Today, powered by AI. I'm Cory with the story. So, Arena Savalinka, the two-time defending champ at the US Open, had a bit of a distraction during her third round match. Apparently, the smell of marijuana was so strong in the stadium that it threw her off her game while she was serving. She even had to stop midpoint a couple of times because of it. She mentioned it to the umpire, saying she never smelled it that intense before, and hoped people would be more mindful. It's a tough thing to deal with when you're trying to focus and compete at the highest level, and that smell just cuts through everything. Now, the US Tennis Association put out a statement saying they're always vigilant about keeping the ground smoke free, even though it's legal in. New York. They're enforcing their rules, reminding people that smoking isn't allowed on the property, including the tennis center. Despite the unusual situation, Savalinka was able to shake it off and eventually win the match. She even made light of it in her press conference afterward, joking that maybe fans were trying

1:02to slow down her fast game. It's definitely a unique story from the tournament, highlighting how even the smallest things can impact an athlete's performance. We'll have to see if any other players encounter similar issues as the Open continues.