Sakkari broke down in tears after her expulsion: ‘I feel like I embarrass all Greeks’

Maria Sakkari lost to Spaniard Rebecca Masarova 2-0 (6-4, 6-4) and was eliminated in the first round of the US Open. Both in her statements at the press conference and on Eurosport, it could be seen that the 28-year-old Greek was in poor mental health and her eyes were watering, while at one point she burst into tears.

She was first questioned about the complaints she had made to the referee in her match about an odor present and it was clarified: “It was cannabis. This smell did not affect me at all. It was just a comment, it has nothing to do with the game. There was a smell in training yesterday too, but that’s irrelevant.”

Never smells food, never food, cannabis. We can’t control it, it’s a backyard and people can do whatever they want. You don’t think about it, you just care about winning the game. He didn’t pay much attention.

About her negative streak at a Grand Slam she said: “I thought I might turn it around, but apparently I was wrong. I don’t have much to say, sorry.”

When asked about the game, he said: “If I don’t put pressure on my team, the opponent will play well. She is a very good player, tall, serves well. They all play well these days. If I played 5-10% better, I would win.” Game, these are the games I have to win.

For my level, that’s a lot of games this season. It’s sad. It has served me well, but it’s nothing I haven’t experienced before. I’ve played with good servers in the past, but my level has been low every now and then and I need to do something about it.

It’s certainly not because you haven’t tried. I don’t know, there is uncertainty now, I don’t know what I’m going to do. Should I take a break or not?.

She then spoke to Eurosport, where her statements were on a similar wavelength. In her first statement she said: “I think my level was below zero. At the level I’m at, it’s very bad to compete like that. It hurts a lot and okay, it’s very difficult to deal with all this right now, it’s very painful.”

On the occasion of her comment, she was asked about the reorganization and she emphasized: “The new year seems far away for me. It’s about what I’m going to do from now on, starting tomorrow. Being able to take a break and align my mind and thoughts is a scenario. The other scenario.” It’s just about going on this year and doing my best to play two or three more tournaments and whatever.

At that moment it’s very “fresh” what’s right or what I want to do, it’s also the current feelings of struggle. I have these two scenarios in mind and it’s very frustrating. I feel like I’ve shamed myself, I’ve shamed my people, I’ve shamed all Greeks.