Mirra Andreeva saw her hopes of defending the BNP Paribas Open title end with a surprising three-set defeat to Kateřina Siniaková. Beyond the result, the teenager also drew attention for the wrong reasons, venting her frustration after the match by throwing her racket and shouting angrily at the crowd.
Mirra Andreeva Lashes Out at the Crowd As Indian Wells Title Defense Ends With Loss to Kateřina Siniaková
Andreeva, who entered the tournament as the defending champion and the eighth seed, began her campaign in dominant fashion, handing Solana Sierra a double bagel in the second round. As a result, many tipped the Russian to prevail in her third-round clash against Siniaková.
The Czech raced out of the blocks with consecutive breaks to surge to a 3-0 lead. But she could not hold on, as Andreeva stormed back to win six of the next seven games and claim the opening set 6-4.
Despite rallying to claim the opening set, the young Russian seemed frustrated, venting her emotions by striking the ball against the wall and repeatedly hitting her leg with the racket.
The second set was fiercely contested, with both players showing remarkable resilience. Andreeva repeatedly recovered after being broken to stay in the contest and eventually forced a tiebreak. The Russian even led 5-4, but Siniaková held her nerve to win the next three points and took the set 7-6 (5).
Despite having a 3-2 lead in the third set, the 18-year-old lost the next four games as Siniaková mounted a strong comeback to secure it 6-3 and reach the fourth round of the WTA 1000 event.
Andreeva, meanwhile, didn’t hold back and ran high on emotions in the aftermath. The Russian hurled her racket after the match ended, and after the handshake, she seemingly lashed out at the crowd.
Mirra Andreeva to the crowd ( or to her box ? ) after losing her match in Indian Wells
« f*** you all. »
🇷🇺ðŸ˜pic.twitter.com/Qx4Gxp58MW
— 🦖 (@RamoFootball) March 9, 2026
Andreeva arrived at the BNP Paribas Open carrying the burden of defending the 1,000 ranking points she earned from last year’s triumph. Her early exit, however, means a significant drop in points, placing her position inside the WTA’s top 10 in serious jeopardy. Now it remains to be seen how the youngster regroups following a shocking defeat to the Czech.
Siniaková, meanwhile, has advanced to the fourth round of the BNP Paribas Open, where she faces a stern test in Elina Svitolina. The Ukrainian holds a commanding 4-0 head-to-head record over Siniaková, making her the clear favorite on paper. PFSN’s Tennis Simulator also gives Svitolina a 73 percent probability of winning the encounter.
