Mirra Andreeva divides tennis world after 'absurd' Wimbledon exit
The 16-year-old was fuming at the chair umpire upon her exit.
Russian teen sensation Mirra Andreeva has been bundled out of Wimbledon in stunning fashion, but the tennis world is divided on whether she should have been docked a point after a controversial racquet throw. Andreeva has been the talk of Wimbledon with the 16-year-old showing her talent having taken out two seeded players on her way to the round of 16.
She fell to American Madison Keys 3-6, 7-6, 6-2, but controversy erupted in the deciding set when the chair umpire deemed Andreeva had thrown her racquet in the motion of slipping. Andreeva was handed a warning from the chair umpire after she flung her racquet across the Wimbledon grass when losing the second set tiebreak.
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In the third set at 2-5 and game point, Keys got her way back to deuce. Andreeva was sliding across the grass at the All England Club when she lost balanced.
In the process of trying to stabilise herself, Andreeva's foot got caught on the grass. Her racquet then went above her head. She then let go of the racquet and it hit the ground with little force.
Chair umpire Julie Kjendlie made the huge call and deemed it a racquet toss, and since she had already warned Andreeva, the Russian was docked a point to hand Keys match point. Andreeva was fuming and argued with the chair umpire that she had lost balance and let go of the racquet.
“I slipped. I didn’t do it. I slid and I fell,” Andreeva said to Kjendlie. The 16-year-old was fuming.
“No it’s (the) wrong decision. Do you understand what you are doing? Do you understand what you are doing?”
“I didn’t throw the racquet, I slid. Yes I did slip, I didn’t throw the racquet. I slid. It’s the wrong decision. I didn’t throw the racquet, I fell. I slid and then I fell.”
I don’t think she does the racket thing if she doesn’t slip. Seems like a reaction to that ……. This seems like an overreach
— andyroddick (@andyroddick) July 10, 2023
Tennis world divided over brutal Mirra Andreeva call
The 16-year-old went on to lose the match and in a poor moment she refused to shake hands with the chair umpire. Andreeva's drama divided the tennis world.
Grand slam winner Andy Roddick admitted it was a harsh call on the teen at a crucial point in the match. "I don't think she does the racket thing if she doesn't slip. Seems like a reaction to that...this seems like an ovvereach," he wrote.
Many agreed with the American, while others felt she had already been warned for her behaviour during the encounter and the chair umpire was correct.
Poor Andreeva - harsh call from the umpire. I think she did *slightly* throw her racket but it was no worse than we see from other players, and it was exaggerated by the fact she did actually slip. What shame to end the match that way.
— Claire 🤙🏻🎾 (@brooksybradshaw) July 10, 2023
A shame how it ended for Andreeva. Replay clearly shows she slipped and let the racket go. The penalty costed her the match. A big case of what if 😢
— Kat (@idontmindk) July 10, 2023
What an absurd decision by the empire. Replay clearly show Andreeva slipped on that point and lost grip of the racket.
Protagonism at its best. Keys would have still won, was pretty much in control, but mistakes are mistakes and at this level, not acceptable.#Wimbledon— Lorenzo (@LV26KS) July 10, 2023
What a stupid call by the umpire against the 16 year old Mirra Andreeva- awarding a point penalty when the racket fell out of her hand after she slipped. Really poor judgment from the umpire. #Wimbledon
— Anukram Adhikary (@AnukramAdhikary) July 10, 2023
Correct and was warned.
Had she not done that, this one would’ve merely been a warning.— Jason Connor (@jasontconnor) July 10, 2023
It really looked like Andreeva wouldn't have 'thrown'/dropped her racket that second time if she didn't slip. V harsh call.
— Yasmin Syed (@yasminstefsyed) July 10, 2023
After the match, the Russian explained her anger. "She's the umpire. She's the one who makes the decision," she said.
"But, honestly, I didn't have any intention to throw the racket. I slid. I thought that I will fall forward. Maybe it did look like I threw the racket.
"For me, she didn't do a right decision. That's why I didn't want to shake hands with her." Keys will now play No.2 seed Aryna Sabalenka in a blockbuster quarter-final clash at Wimbledon.
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