Defending champion Mirra Andreeva exited Indian Wells in dramatic fashion on Monday, losing to unseeded Katerina Siniakova 4-6, 6-7(5), 6-3 in a third-round clash marked by racket smashing and crowd confrontations.
Andreeva hurled her racket at the hard court after dropping the second-set tiebreaker. She then smashed the equipment multiple times, with officials issuing her a code violation for the outburst.
The fireworks didn't end there. After Siniakova clinched match point, Andreeva threw her racket again. She subsequently shook hands at the net, then stormed off the court while shouting at spectators.
Siniakova advanced with the upset victory, as the Czech player capitalized on Andreeva's unraveling to claim the win.
"I knew the pressure was on her. I was trying to enjoy it, because finally I was on the other side when I have nothing to lose," Siniaková told The Tennis Channel.
"She's an amazing player. You need to play long rallies, you need to do it on your own."
Mirra Andreeva Addresses her Indian Wells Outburst
In her post-match press conference, the 18-year-old expressed regret for her outburst, acknowledging her behavior fell short of her standards. The teenager said she wasn't proud of how she managed her emotions during the loss.
Andreeva told reporters she needs to work on her temperament, emphasizing urgency in addressing her on-court conduct. The defending champion called it something she must fix soon rather than later.
"I'm not really proud of how I managed it. I'm not really proud of how I handled it in the end," she told reporters.
"Those are the things that really need to work on soon. I don't know. Not in the future, but whenever I get the chance."
The loss marks a disappointing run for Andreeva, after the Russian star won the prestigious California tournament last year. Her exit leaves the draw wide open for a new Indian Wells champion.
