Mirra Andreeva did not get everyone’s approval after winning her second consecutive WTA 1000 title at Indian Wells.
Andreeva beat Aryna Sabalenka to win the biggest title of her career in the Californian desert, extending her winning streak to 12 matches.
The 17-year-old is now at a career-high ranking of world number six, with Andreeva first arriving on the WTA Tour two years ago.
Despite appearing on top of the world at the moment, Andreeva did receive criticism for something that she did during the Indian Wells final.
Rennae Stubbs criticises Mirra Andreeva for what she did in the Indian Wells final
After losing the first set to Sabalenka in the Indian Wells final, Andreeva hit the ball into the crowd in frustration.
This was the second incident of this manor to have taken place in just a matter of days, with Iga Swiatek being criticized for nearly hitting a ball boy in her semi-final defeat to Andreeva.
Former doubles world number one Rennae Stubbs, who was critical of Indian Wells scheduling this year, has called for something to change and suggested harsher punishments for players that do something similar in the future.
“In the finals I have to say I was so impressed with Mirra’s ability to not crumble after losing the first set,” Stubbs said on her podcast. “We saw her get p***** off. We saw her hit that ball out of the crowd and she said ‘I am really sorry about how I acted’, as you would probably say, I think she said in the ceremony, I would call that being a brat.
“I do not like to see that. I do not like to see balls hit out like that. I do not like to see the way Iga [hit the ball], who also said sorry. And this is coming from who had a pretty good temper on the court but I was not a real ball hitter out the court. I was more of a self sabotager.
“This hitting balls out the stadium has got to stop. The tennis administration needs to make some blanket rules that if you hit balls into the crowd or out of the stadium, or something like that, you lose a game or you lose something enormous. Maybe not a walkover immediately but a really big fine or something. Because that’s the only way to stop it. There’s too much ambiguity.”
What has Iga Swiatek said after receiving criticism for hitting the ball in frustration?
While Andreeva apologized in her post-match speech, Swiatek released a lengthy statement on social media following her incident.
In this statement, Swiatek revealed that she apologized to the ball boy at the time of the incident and called out double standards against her.
“I expressed frustration in a way I’m not proud of,” Swiatek said on Instagram. “My intention was never to aim the ball at anyone but merely to release my frustration by bouncing it on the ground.
“I immediately apologised to the ball boy, we made eye contact and nodded to each other when I expressed regret that it happened near him. I’ve seen many players bounce balls in frustration, and frankly, I didn’t expect such harsh judgements.
“Usually, I control such impulses, so half-jokingly I can say I lack experience in this and misjudged my aim in the heat of the moment.”
The world number two continued, “When I’m highly focused and don’t show many emotions on court, I’m called a robot, my attitude labelled as inhuman,” the world number two continued. “Now that I’m more expressive, showing feelings or struggling internally, I’m suddenly labelled immature or hysterical.
“That’s not a healthy standard, especially considering that just six months ago, I felt my career was hanging by a thread, spent three weeks crying daily and didn’t want to step on the court.
“Today, after everything I’ve been through, I’m still processing and coming to terms with those experiences. Will sharing this change anything? Probably not, because I clearly see how much we love judging, creating theories and imposing opinions on others.
“But perhaps a few people who genuinely want to understand what I’m experiencing will understand this. In any case, this external standard is definitely not my standard and I don’t accept my team and me being boxed into external expectations.
“Nevertheless, to those fans who truly support me, I deeply thank you and want you to know how grateful I am for your kindness.”
Swiatek will look to move on from her recent disappointment at the Miami Open, where she will play either Caroline Garcia or Anna Bondar in her opening match on Thursday March 20.
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