Greek world No. 8 Maria Sakkari said she may take a break from tennis after suffering an opening-round exit at the US Open.

The 28-year-old crashed out after a 6-4, 6-4 defeat by Spanish world No. 71 Rebeka Masarova, capping a miserable year at the grand slams after first-round exits at the French Open and Wimbledon and a third-round appearance at the Australian Open.

“I wouldn’t say I was playing well,” an emotional Sakkari told Eurosport. “If I played at least five or 10 per cent better, I would have won that match.

“These are the matches that I have to win. I cannot lose these matches; there have been too many for my level this year, and it’s unfortunate.

“I just feel like my level was and has been poor and I have to do something about it. It’s not a lack of effort, for sure.

“It’s very uncertain, I don’t know what I am going to do, whether I am going to take a break or not.”

Sakkari said after the match that she was bothered by the odour of marijuana in the air.

Reuters