Rennae Stubbs says what Mirra Andreeva did in her defeat at the Miami Open which was ‘highly unusual’

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Mirra Andreeva has been the name on everyone’s lips when it comes to women’s tennis in 2025.

The Russian performer was thrashed by Aryna Sabalenka in the fourth round of the Australian Open but got retribution at Indian Wells.

Andreeva came from a set behind to win 2-1 and take the biggest title of her career so far.

The 17-year-old also won the Dubai Tennis Championships before, and now all the chat revolves around when Andreeva will win a Grand Slam for the first time.

Sabalenka has backed Andreeva for big things in her career, but the Miami Open did offer a minor setback.

The teenager was beaten in a controversial game against Amanda Anisimova, and it’s been noted that she did something rather out of the ordinary in that game.

• READ MORE: Coco Gauff former coach defends Andreeva

Rennae Stubbs shares what was unusual about Mirra Andreeva in Miami Open defeat

The pundit has been there and seen it as a professional player on the WTA Tour and now she’s delivered a verdict on Andreeva’s latest defeat.

The 6-7, 6-2, 6-3 defeat ended a brilliant run of wins for Andreeva and Stubbs said on The Rennae Stubbs Tennis Podcast that she spotted something very unusual.

Stubbs claimed: “There was no doubt she hit the wall in that match. I know she was not feeling well before the match, so she went on the court maybe not feeling good, hence her attitude. Having the trainer come out at 2-1 in the first set is highly unusual.

“But I will give her credit as a 17-year-old. She hung in there when she could have given up after losing the first set and then it looked like she was going to lose the match and then Anisimova turned it around in the third set and started hitting winners from all over the place.

“But Andreeva certainly showed her age in the fact she hit the wall. Mentally, she acted like Mirra Andreeva from two years ago. Mum left the box, Conchi had lost all control of herself. It was just like f— everybody, I hate everything, I hate being out here.”

Rennae Stubbs defends Amanda Anisimova over controversy

The defeat for Andreeva was marred by controversy regarding a medical time out for her opponent.

Suffering from a blister on her hand, Anisimova asked for the trainer mid-game and that’s not technically permitted in the rules.

However, Stubbs believes there is a loophole in the rule that means Anisimova didn’t actually do anything wrong.

She continued: “If anyone follows Anisimova on Instagram you would have seen the blister on her finger. That was a really bad blister. It was horrible. I don’t know if any of you have played tennis, certainly haven’t played it professionally. But a blister that size on your finger kills when you are trying to hit the ball. She had asked for the trainer. She asked for the trainer on the next changeover. You have to let the physios know because they are sitting in the locker room, not by the court, unless it is in the final they are not sitting by the court because there are only so many physios and they are doing a tremendous amount of work in the locker rooms at the time of matches.

“So Amanda let the umpire know please get the physio out here on the next changeover. That gives them time to get out there, so you are not waiting for them. Of course, she is up 3-1 in the third, so she doesn’t want to stop her momentum. I’ll give her credit, she was down a game point and lost a point to go back to deuce. She immediately from hitting that ball [thought] I cannot hit the ball any more and this is a really important game for me. It is within the rules that if it is an acute injury, for example, if someone sprains an ankle or falls and breaks their finger, the physio will come out and assess if it’s an acute injury.

“Now looking at that finger, that’s acute. That’s a I cannot hit the tennis ball now without being in a tremendous amount of pain. Anisimova played three points after asking for the physio and she knew after that it could go duece/ad. Meanwhile the finger is getting worse, she can’t hit the ball, so she decided to call the trainer. That is allowed in the rules!”

Andreeva will bounce back in the coming weeks and months, with the French Open on the horizon.

Last year, the Russian reached the last four of that event and perhaps that tournament will be eyed as the one where she can enjoy a genuine crack at winning a first major title.