Arr, Matey Maria Sakkari be claimin' she caught a whiff o' the devil's lettuce durin' her unlucky loss at the US Open! Ahoy!
2023-08-29
Arr, me hearties! Maria Sakkari, the No. 8 seed in lasses' singles at the 2023 U.S. Open, be claimin' she caught the scent o' marijuana whilst sufferin' a bitter loss to Rebeka Masarova on Monday. Methinks the lass be blamin' the sweet smell fer her misfortune!
Despite the distraction, Sakkari did not make any excuses for her performance. She acknowledged the smell but didn't let it affect her focus on winning the match. Sakkari mentioned that smelling various things, such as food or cigarettes, is common when playing in an open space. She attributed the marijuana scent to the nearby park, where people can do whatever they want.
While Sakkari seemed unfazed, other players like Nick Kyrgios have complained about smelling marijuana during matches in the past. Kyrgios, who is asthmatic, expressed concern about inhaling the substance and its potential impact on his health.
This defeat marked Sakkari's third consecutive first-round exit in a Grand Slam Tournament. Just last year, she reached a career-high ranking of No. 3 in the world, making her the highest-ranked Greek player in history alongside men's standout Stefanos Tsitsipas.
Despite the setback, Sakkari remained focused on her game and determined to bounce back in future tournaments. As for the marijuana smell, it seems to be an unexpected occurrence that players have to contend with while competing on the tennis court.