World No 1 Aryna Sabalenka called a halt to her third-round match at the US Open after complaining she could smell marijuana.

The two-time defending champion was 2-0 up and serving in the first set against Kamilla Rakhimova on Louis Armstrong Stadium when she stopped abruptly and spoke to her team before approaching the umpire’s chair.

“Someone is smoking weed,” she told umpire Eva Asderaki-Moore. “Would you mind to… because it’s so strong.”

Asderaki-Moore spoke to an official on her radio and turned to someone else behind her, making a smoking gesture with her fingers, before play continued.

The smell of weed around Flushing Meadows has been an issue this week but has broadly been confined to the outside courts, close to nearby Corona Park. Smoking of any kind is prohibited on the site itself.

Afterwards, Sabalenka said: “I was, like, Guys, you can do whatever, you can smoke whatever, you can relax as much as you can, but please, do not do it around the tennis courts. It’s a bit tricky to handle that smell while you’re trying to compete at your best.

“[The smell was] that strong, yeah. Also, because it was a bit windy. I don’t know if it was, like, coming from the crowd or was from the outside because the wind blows it into the stadium. I don’t know. I just hope they’re going to be a bit more aware of that stuff.”

Despite the disruption Sabalenka was able to keep composed, winning 6-3 6-4 and withstanding the pressure as Rakhimova rallied in the second set, which took 54 minutes – a minute longer than Sabalenka’s entire second-round match.

“Second she played incredible tennis,” the Belarusian 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.”

She joked that she wore an elaborate, eye-catching jewellery set to “distract” opponents but in reality could rely on her usual easy power and aggression to hold off the world No 92.

Sabalenka, who is aiming to become the first woman to win three US Open titles in a row since Serena Williams from 2012-2014, will next play American Taylor Townsend.

Later on Friday third seed and former finalist Jessica Pegula survived a huge scare against 2021 runner-up Leylah Fernandez, dropping an error-strewn first set 6-1 before regrouping and taking advantage of a dip in the Canadian’s level to win 1-6 6-4 6-3, roared on by a hugely supportive home crowd.

“I’m not sure [how I turned it around], it was really tough today,” Pegula said afterwards. “I never feel comfortable playing her even when I’ve won. I knew I was going to have to dig deep, really glad I could find something there to turn it around.”

Pegula will play Romania’s Sorana Cirstea in the fourth round after the 16th seed beat 19th seed Jasmine Paolini in straight sets.

With PA

Former India cricketer Kris Srikkanth questioned Washington Sundar’s match fitness and selection in the upcoming three-match Afghanistan T20 series, arguing that the all-rounder should have played competitive cricket before being picked for India.  Srikkanth also expressed concerns over Sundar’s recurring injuries and felt that he has lost his rhythm in white-ball cricket despite making a successful transition to Test cricket. Sundar, along with pace spearhead Jasprit Bumrah, returns to the squad, subject to fitness clearance. The squad also includes all-rounder Nitish Kumar Reddy and pacer Harshit Rana. The series will get underway on September 13, with the second T20I scheduled for September 15 and the third on September 17. All three matches will be played in New Delhi at the Arun Jaitley Cricket Stadium.

“He is good in Tests but didn’t play in Sri Lanka. How is he fit now, in two weeks? He has not proved his match fitness, so what is the use? You must play some matches at some level to show your fitness before being picked for India. You can’t just play with a doctor’s certificate. Washington Sundar seems to be injured after every two or three series,” Srikkanth said on his YouTube channel. 

“He was smashed in Ireland and England. He started his cricket from the T20 format. He moved brilliantly to Test cricket, but he has lost his rhythm in white-ball cricket,” he added. 

In July, Sundar suffered a hamstring injury during the third ODI against England and has since been at the Centre of Excellence (COE) for his recovery.

India’s squad: Shreyas Iyer, Abhishek Sharma, Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, Sanju Samson, Ishan Kishan, Tilak Varma, Shivam Dube, Nitish Kumar Reddy*, Axar Patel, Washington Sundar*, Varun Chakaravarthy, Ravi Bishnoi, Jasprit Bumrah*, Arshdeep Singh, Harshit Rana*

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)

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Former world champion Andy Ruiz Jr has vowed to carry on after losing his comeback fight to Poland’s Damian Knyba in New Jersey.

The 36-year-old heavyweight shocked the boxing world seven years ago by beating Britain’s Anthony Joshua to take his world titles.

Ruiz Jr has since been beset by injuries and was taking part in just his fourth fight since losing the rematch to Joshua in December 2019.

He looked a shadow of his former self at the Prudential Center in Newark, saved by the bell after scrambling back to his feet following a knockdown in the seventh, he eventually lost by a unanimous points decision.

Judges scored the fight 117-110, 114-113 and 114-113 in favour of the Pole, who took his record to 18 wins and one defeat, but Ruiz Jr was quick to demand a rematch.

“I don’t know, I think it was just him holding,” said Ruiz Jr, who recently signed up with British promoter Eddie Hearn.

“Every time I tried to come in, he’d hold me really tight, and I just couldn’t let my combinations go.

“He played a good game plan, but I’d love to run it back and do things a lot different.”

Joshua’s former conqueror argued that he was simply rusty after taking his first fight since drawing with American Jarrell Miller in August 2024.

“It was just a long layoff, and it was a great opponent,” he argued.

“I didn’t want to take an easy fight, so that’s why I took Damian. He’s a big guy. But we’ve got to take risks. I’ve still got it in me, man. I’ve just got to stay active and I want to fight again.”

Classes in Search for the Needle are playable archetypes that grant you various bonuses when equipped. Each Class can help you speed up your clear times in a different way, be it through stat bonuses or special items. You can unlock Classes in the game’s hub area by performing spins with Gems, the main currency of this experience. The utility provided by the Class system makes it indispensable to all players.

This guide features a complete overview of every Class in Search for the Needle, along with the bonuses it offers.

Every Class and what it does in Search for the Needle

Unlocking Classes is only possible while you are in the lobby. Approach the “Classes” station to access the menu and view the different Classes available in this experience. You can’t freely buy a Class in this title; you can only perform spins, requiring you to spend 40 Gems per roll. Each Class has a predetermined chance to roll through spins, which can also be seen under their names in the Classes menu.

Below, you can find all the details for every Class in this experience:

Starter

• Default Class with a 40% chance to roll through spins.
• This Class offers no bonuses.

Pack Mule

• 25% chance to roll through spins.
• This Class increases carry capacity by 50% in every bag.

Hay Merchant

• 14% chance to roll through spins.
• This Class increases the amount of money you earn upon selling hay by 20%.

Forkmaster

• 9% chance to roll through spins.
• This Class causes Pitchfork swings to collect 25% more hay.
• The cost of Pitchfork upgrades is reduced by 25%.

Demolitionist

• 7% chance to roll through spins.
• The Class increases the blast radius of Dynamite explosions by 20%.
• It also has a 10% chance of causing the TNT to split into three mini-charges.

If you are new to Search for the Needle, our beginner’s guide can provide you with an overview of its basic mechanics.

Prospector

• 3.9% chance to roll through spins.
• This Class causes Diamonds to appear 50% more frequently when collecting hay.
• It can also cause hay to transform into Diamonds.

Drone Specialist

• 1% chance to roll through spins.
• When playing as this Class, you always own a drone.
• The drone flies 30% faster and carries 40% more hay.
• Every once in a while, a three-drone work swarm has a chance to appear.

Ultimate Farmer

• 0.1% chance to roll through spins.
• This Class offers the bonuses of every other Class at once.
• Every once in a while, it will cause Golden Harvest to activate.

Also read: Unique Roblox username ideas for new players

FAQs on Search for the Needle

How many Classes does Search for the Needle feature?

The game features a total of eight unique Classes.

What is the best Class in the game?

The Ultimate Farmer Class is the best, as it offers the bonuses of every other Class at the same time.

How do I unlock Classes?

Classes can be unlocked by performing spins in the lobby.