Greek tennis star Maria Sakkari recently expressed her concern over the smell of marijuana during her US Open match. As the No. 8 seed, Sakkari suffered an upset in the first round, marking her third early exit at a Grand Slam this year. However, it was the distinct smell of marijuana that caught her attention during a changeover.
Sakkari later confirmed that the smell was indeed marijuana and believed it was emanating from a nearby park outside the tennis center. Despite the pungent odor, the Greek athlete stated that it didn’t affect her performance on the court.
Interestingly, Sakkari isn’t the only player to complain about the smell of marijuana at the US Open. Last year, Australian player Nick Kyrgios also raised a similar complaint. Kyrgios, who has asthma, expressed concern that the smell can impact his breathing during matches.
Both Sakkari and Kyrgios are shedding light on this issue, highlighting the potential impact of marijuana smell on players’ performance at such high-stakes events like the US Open. With the increasing popularity and acceptance of marijuana use in many parts of the world, it raises questions about how the presence of the drug might affect players in competitive sports.
While some may argue that the smell of marijuana is simply a sign of fans enjoying themselves, athletes like Sakkari and Kyrgios are urging tournament organizers to address the issue. Ensuring a clean and odor-free playing environment is crucial for enabling athletes to perform at their best and minimize any potential distractions.
As the debate surrounding marijuana continues, it remains to be seen whether measures will be taken to mitigate the effects of the smell during matches. In the meantime, athletes like Sakkari and Kyrgios are raising awareness and urging authorities to look into this issue for the sake of all players’ well-being and fair competition at the US Open and other high-profile tennis tournaments.
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