US Open: Players smell Marijuana during play but it’s not affecting performances

Spain's Rebeka Masarova defeated Maria Sakkari 6-4, 6-4 in their recent match at the US Open.

During the game, the Greek star communicated that she could smell marijuana on the court.

"The smell, oh my God... I think it was weed (marijuana) and it's coming from the park," Sakkari said to the chair umpire.

Maria Sakkari: "It was cannabis, but it didn't affect me in any way."

At the post-match press conference, Maria Sakkari explained that "it was cannabis. It didn't affect me in any way, it was just a comment, it has nothing to do with the match".

The Greek tennis player, the current world number 8, noted "I also caught a whiff of it yesterday at practice, but it's irrelevant. We cannot control it, there is a park behind and people can do whatever they want. You don't think about it, the only thing you care about is winning the match. I didn't pay much attention to it."

Recreational marijuana use has been allowed in New York State since 2022, although it cannot be consumed inside the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center as it is a smoke-free facility.

Adjacent to the Billie Jean King Tennis Center facility is Corona Park where many young and homeless people from the Queen's neighborhood often hang out, which explains why there

is often a smell of Marijuana on the court.