NEW YORK (AP) — Aryna Sabalenka was finally challenged at 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.

“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 Taylor Townsend in the round of 16.

Sabalenka, Pegula get through tough tests at US Open, with Williams sisters playing doubles at night | iNFOnews.ca — Jessica Pegula, of the United States, returns the ball to Leylah Fernandez, of Canada, during the third round of the U.S. Open tennis championships Friday, Sept. 4, 2026, in New York. (AP Photo/Kirsty Wigglesworth)

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 Friday night against Hao-Ching Chan and Maya Joint, who beat Serena in singles play at Wimbledon this summer.

Two-time champion Carlos Alcaraz returned to the round of 16 by beating Wu Yibing 6-3, 6-4, 6-1. Back for this tournament after missing four months because of a right wrist injury, Alcaraz will face No. 20 seed Tommy Paul, who edged No. 15 Alexander Bublik in five sets.

“To be honest I’m better than I thought,” Alcaraz said.

The No. 2-seeded Alcaraz played with Serena Williams in mixed doubles, where they lost in the quarterfinals. He was hoping to watch her team up with Venus again following his victory.

“I think there is no better plan, you know, to watch the doubles, the Williamses, once again, while getting a treatment,” he said. “I’m going to be ready for that.”

Sabalenka smelled marijuana and Pegula struggled early for tennis reasons

Sabalenka was serving in the third game of her match in Louis Armstrong Stadium when 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 umpire 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.”

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.

Fernandez hadn’t won a Grand Slam singles match this year until getting to New York and was trying to reach the fourth round at the U.S. Open for the first time since falling to Emma Raducanu in the final five years ago. Pegula handled her easily in their only meeting this year but said Fernandez showed her different looks that gave her trouble.

“I didn’t start off very well. It was tough,” Pegula said. “I had to dig deep there in the second to turn that around, and it very well could have not turned around.”

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.

Townsend reached the round of 16 for the second straight year by knocking off No. 15 seed Diana Shnaider 6-2, 6-7 (3), 6-3 and seemed eager for the matchup with Sabalenka.

“I’m so excited. I feel like I thrive in these moments,” the American said. “I’m built for these moments and so now is my time, I’m ready to take it. I’m ready to go.”

Wimbledon champion Linda Noskova and Marta Kostyuk, the No. 11 seed, advanced, setting up a rematch of their semifinal match at the All England Club. No. 7 seed Karolina Muchova, who lost in that final, was ousted by No. 26 Emma Navarro.

Daniil Medvedev, the 2021 champion, became the first man into the fourth round when he beat Arthur Rinderknech 6-4, 6-4, 6-4. The No. 7 seed will face either No. 11 Frances Tiafoe or No. 22 Valentin Vacherot.

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