‘It was weed’ – Maria Sakkari reveals cause for concern and breaks down in press conference
Maria Sakkari admitted she may be set for a break from tennis after her shock exit at in the first round at the US Open.
There was an early upset on day one at Flushing Meadows with eighth seed Maria Sakkari from Greece bowing out 6-4, 6-4 to Spanish world number 71 Rebeka Masarova.
It was the latest setback for the Greek star who has struggled to find her best form consistently in 2023 and she admitted she may now take some time away from the sport.
“Maybe I have to take a break,” she said. “I don’t know what I’m going to do, I’m suffering on the court.
“I’m trying to do everything to improve myself. When I am not affecting the match, it allows my opponents to play well. She is a very good player. She is a strong girl.”
Sakkari’s pain was etched across her face as she faced questions from the media, with her press conference ending quickly when she was unable to continue and became overcome with emotion.
It now seems likely that Sakkari will take some time to consider her next move, even though she is set to retain her place in the top ten of the WTA rankings despite this early exit in New York.
Sakkari did reach a final of a WTA Tour event in Washington earlier this month, but she has not managed to piece wins together as she would have wanted over the course of 2023.
She lost in the first round at Wimbledon and the French Open, while she also lost early at the Australian Open in January.
Runs to the semi-finals of the Indian Wells and Miami WTA 1000 events ensured her season had some high points, but it was clear that this likeable player is not enjoying life on court right now.
Earlier in the media briefing, Sakkari resolved why she was complaining to the umpire during her match, after complaining about a smell on the court.
“It was weed,” she said. “It wasn’t the smell that affected the score in any way,” she said.
“It was just a comment because it was smelling quite a lot – but it has nothing to do with the match.
And she added: “Sometimes you smell food, sometimes you smell cigarettes, sometimes you smell weed.
“I mean, it’s something we cannot control because we’re in an open space. There’s a park behind. People can do whatever they want.”
Sakkari’s pain was contrasted by joy for Britain’s Lily Miyazaki on day one at the US Open, as she recorded her first main draw Grand Slam win.
Miyazaki branded her US Open debut “surreal” after winning her first match at a grand slam.
There were echoes of Emma Raducanu after the 27-year-old qualifier, Britain’s sole representative on day one, beat Russian Margarita Betova 6-3, 6-3.
Miyazaki, who moved to London aged 10 but only changed allegiance from Japan last year, overcame an early break and won six games in a row to take control before winning with her second match point.
Miyazaki joked that she had watched 15th seed Bencic far more than the Swiss would have watched her.
She added: “Yeah, I’m really looking forward to it. She’s a great player obviously.
“It’s actually funny, when I lived in Switzerland, I played her when I was about nine years old and she must have been about seven or eight.
“I remember even back then she was taking the ball so early. Half volleying, drive volleying, everything. Yeah, I expect a really tough match.”
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