Smells and Swings: Tennis Star Sniffs Out Unusual Court Scent at US Open
Imagine being in the heat of a tennis match, and suddenly, you catch a whiff of something unexpected. That’s exactly what happened to Maria Sakkari, a top-10 tennis player, during her US Open match. She was dominating her opponent, Rebeka Masarova, when an unusual aroma caught her attention.
Scent of Suspense
Leading 4-1 in the first set, Sakkari raised eyebrows by signaling to the umpire about the peculiar scent. In a post-match press conference, she boldly revealed it was the smell of “weed.” The Greek player humorously exclaimed, “Oh my God… I think it’s from the park.” She then recalled, “We were practising here yesterday and it was the same.” With a shrug and a puzzled expression, she wiped herself down, seemingly puzzled by the unexpected odor.
A Smelly Setback
Surprisingly, despite her keen nose for unusual aromas, Sakkari couldn’t sniff out a victory. She ended up losing the match 6-4, 6-4 to Rebeka Masarova, a Spaniard ranked 71st in the world. A surprising turn of events on the Grand Slam court!
Scent vs. Score
Clearing the air during a press session, Sakkari clarified that the smell wasn’t the reason behind her loss. “It wasn’t the smell that affected the scoring,” she emphasized. According to her, the aroma was strong, but it didn’t impact the match. “It was just a comment because it was smelling quite a lot, but it has nothing to do with the match.” Sakkari played down the smell’s significance, highlighting that tennis courts can have all sorts of scents – from food to cigarettes to, yes, weed. After all, it’s an open space with a park nearby, and people can do as they please.
Not Nose-Numbing
In a candid moment, Sakkari admitted that she didn’t dwell on the marijuana scent once she detected it. Despite the distraction, she tried to maintain her focus on the game. It’s not the first time a tennis player has had their senses assaulted on the court. Last year, Australian player Nick Kyrgios reportedly went through a similar aromatic experience during the tournament.
In the world of tennis, it seems like even unexpected odors can become part of the game. As Sakkari navigated the scented setback, she proved that even if the court smells like a picnic or a potpourri, what really matters is how players handle the challenges that come their way.