Mirra Andreeva, the French Open champion, found herself in tears during a media interview after being ousted in the second round at Wimbledon by 2024 victor Barbora Krejcikova.
Just after the match concluded, Andreeva tossed her racquet in frustration. The Czech player triumphed over last month’s French Open winner by securing a hard-fought win with scores of 6-4, 7-5, 6-4.
During her post-match press conference, a tearful Andreeva confessed she would require “a couple of days” to process the outcome and gather her thoughts.
“I’m uncertain about my upcoming tournament plans,” she said. “I need to consult with my team to determine where I will compete next.”
Since making her mark on the professional scene in 2024, Andreeva has shown great promise but has occasionally battled with maintaining her fiery temper, notably smashing her racquet during a three-set loss while defending her Indian Wells title in March.
Mirra Andreeva was moved to tears and forced to briefly pause her press conference after defeat at Wimbledon
The Russian star flung her racquet across the court after she was knocked out on Centre Court
The 19-year-old had tears in her eyes but composed herself to continue speaking to the media
After defeat on Centre Court, Andreeva followed up her racquet-flinging by telling her box ‘I quit’, but was professional at the net as she congratulated Krejcikova and accepted some consoling words from the 30-year-old.
Racquet abuse, particularly on the pristine first-week turf of Centre Court, can carry a considerable fine, with Novak Djokovic handed a £6,117 penalty in 2023 after smashing his racquet against the net post.
‘At Grand Slams possible fines are determined and issued by the Grand Slam supervisors in due course,’ the All England Club told Daily Mail Sport when contacted for comment.
There was also some suggestion that Andreeva had been distracted by England’s winning goal, scored during the third set, but she strongly denied that had been the case after the dust had settled.
‘I didn’t know that,’ Andreeva said when told there was an England match being played during her match. ‘I didn’t feel like they were super loud.
‘They did it when she was still going to the baseline to return, so it didn’t bother me at all. I didn’t feel like it was super loud, as well.
Andreeva had cut a frustrated figure during the later stages of the match, and was further unsettled in the third set when a bracelet she was wearing snapped, spilling beads across the surface of the court.
She was then helped by members of the grounds staff to pick the beads up, and was given a hindrance call.
The teenager also spent sections of the match yelling at her coach Conchita Martinez in her player box, and in more troubling scenes, even hit herself over the head with her racquet as she vented her spleen.
After she was beaten in Indian Wells, she told the crowd ‘f*** you all’ in an uncontrollable outburst, but often, her temper turns in on herself.
Andreeva emotionally told herself, ‘I’m not a champion. I’m not a champion. I will lose. I will lose,’ during her Madrid Open match against Anna Bondar – but fought back to claim the hard-won victory in three tight sets.
In troubling scenes, the 19-year-old also smacked herself in the head with her racquet on a frustrating afternoon
Krejcikova’s post-Wimbledon-win career has been speckled with injury issues, most recently forcing her to concede the Libema Open title at ‘s-Hertogenbosch after withdrawing with a respiratory illness.
‘It’s definitely special (winning today),’ the Czech star said during her on-court interview. ‘I have been through a lot with injuries and my personal life.
‘The last couple months were really hard to get through with the emotions of what has happened.
‘But, I put lots of work and dedication in every single day. I try to go day by day. Thank you to my team in the box and everyone who stays back in Czech Republic.’