World number one Aryna Sabalenka had an unusual interruption during her U.S. Open third-round match on Friday, stopping play to alert the umpire to a strong smell of cannabis drifting on to Louis Armstrong Stadium court.

Two-time defending champion Aryna Sabalenka out-gunned Kamilla Rakhimova to reach the US Open last 16 on Friday.

World number three Jessica Pegula and former champion Daniil Medvedev raced into the third round of the US Open on Wednesday with straight-sets victories.

Elena Rybakina battled past Jessica Pegula into the Australian Open final on Thursday with the fifth seed setting up a repeat of her 2023 title match against Aryna Sabalenka.

Carlos Alcaraz powered into the US Open semifinals to set up a potential showdown with Novak Djokovic on Tuesday as Jessica Pegula punched her ticket to the last four.

Pegula has now won 15 of 16 matches on the US summer hard court swing which saw a title in Toronto and defeat in the Cincinnati final to Sabalenka.

Eighth seed Veronika Kudermetova claimed her first title of the season and second overall with a comprehensive 7-5 6-1 win over world number four Jessica Pegula in the Pan Pacific Open final in Tokyo on Sunday.

Defending champion Alcaraz, who has only dropped one set on his journey into the last eight, produced a dominant display to overwhelm Italian world No.61 Matteo Arnaldi, winning 6-3, 6-3, 6-4 in 1hr 57min.

American world number four Jessica Pegula said doing business with Saudi Arabia can help the WTA in its quest to ensure equal prize money but it will carefully evaluate following other sports to the Gulf state.

World number eight Daria Kasatkina has given the thumbs down to the idea of "trash-talking" between professional tennis players, saying that disparaging or boastful comments under the guise of banter would not work well in an "intelligent" sport.

Iga Swiatek was left in tears after Jessica Pegula stunned the world number one on Friday to give the United States a 1-0 lead over Poland in the semi-finals of the inaugural United Cup.