Maria Sakkari, No. 8 in women's singles at the 2023 US Open, said she smelled marijuana during her first-round loss to Rebeka Masarova on Monday night.
“It was grass,” Sakkari said clearly over ESPN after the game.
Sakkari lost in straight sets 6-4, 6-4 but it was a match she seemed in control from the start. She led 4-1 against Masarova on court 17 but Sakkari said she sensed it from the start.
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Maria Sakkari of Greece returns a shot against Rebeka Masarova of Spain during their women's singles first round match on day one of the 2023 US Open at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center on August 28, 2023 in the Flushing borough of the borough of Queens of New York City. (Sarah Bull/Getty Images)
The Greek said she mentioned to the referee during a change of game that she smelled marijuana.
“I think it's from the park,” said Sakkari.
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However, despite smelling marijuana during their match, Sakkari didn't apologize for their play.
“You don't really think about it because it's all about winning the game,” said Sakkari. “I smelled it, but that was it. So it wasn't anything I paid attention to.”
She continued, “Sometimes you smell food, sometimes you smell cigarettes, sometimes you smell weed. I mean it's something we can't control because we're in an open space. There is a park behind it. People can do whatever they want.”
Maria Sakkari of Greece celebrates a point against Rebeka Masarova of Spain during their women's singles first round match on day one of the 2023 US Open at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center on August 28, 2023 in the Flushing borough of the Queens borough of New York City. (Sarah Bull/Getty Images)
While it might not have bothered Sakkari, players like Nick Kyrgios have also complained on medical grounds in the past.
During a game last year, Kyrgios mentioned the smell of marijuana and, being asthmatic, didn't think inhaling it was good for him, especially on the pitch.
Sakkari was eliminated in the first round of a Grand Slam tournament for the third straight year.
Maria Sakkari of Greece cools off between sets against Rebeka Masarova of Spain during their women's singles first round match on day one of the 2023 US Open at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center August 28, 2023 in the Flushing borough of the Queens borough of New Zealand York-City. (Sarah Bull/Getty Images)
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Just last year, Sakkari was ranked 3rd in the world, making her the highest-ranked Greek player in history alongside outstanding men's player Stefanos Tsitsipas.
