“Russians should not be allowed to play” – Mirra Andreeva SLAMMED for no handshake with the umpire and Madison Keys after losing in Wimbledon
Mirra Andreeva's 'unprofessional' behavior after Wimbledon loss sparks debate.
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Teen sensation Mirra Andreeva stormed off the court without acknowledging chair umpire Julie Kjendlie following a controversial end to her Wimbledon fourth-round match against Madison Keys. Fans were quick to react, with some lambasting the 16-year-old for her actions, while others felt that the umpire had made a judgmental error at a key juncture of the match.
The Russian, who has had a fairy-tale start to her tennis career, bringing back memories of compatriot Maria Sharapova‘s meteoric rise as a 17-year-old in 2004, had her nose ahead of Keys for a large part of the match and was just three points away from taking the match in straight sets. However, she lost her composure and wilted under pressure, handing the match to the 25th seed.
The match wasn’t short of controversy, as the teenager received a warning for smashing her racket in the second-set tiebreak. In a rather controversial climax, when Andreeva was 2-5 down in the deciding set, she was docked a point for “code violation and unsportsmanlike conduct.”
She slipped and, while it looked like an off-balance Andreeva was about to slam her racket, she gently tossed it. The chair umpire, Julie was in no mood to relent and handed her a point penalty, giving the American match point. Keys, who was the Eastbourne International winner last week, ended up winning 3-6, 7-6(4), 6-2.
Fans fume at the youngster’s behavior
Fans were aghast at Mirra Andreeva for snubbing the chair umpire and storming off the court in disgust after barely acknowledging her opponent. One fan labeled her actions as ‘unprofessional’ and ‘unacceptable’.
Sharing a wide spectrum of reactions online, here’s what fans have to say:
Here, are a few more Twitter reactions:
One Twitter user, likened it to the prevailing global political climate, by highlighting in the nationality of the youngster.
This was rebuffed almost immediately by another user, who chimed in with his opposite views.
The 16-year-old prodigy did, however, receive sympathy from a section of fans who felt that the chair umpire was a bit too harsh with her decision to dock a point, given that the youngster clearly lost her footing before the perceived unsportsmanlike act took place.
All said and done, Mirra Andreeva’s meteoric rise has been nothing short of extraordinary. It is difficult to fathom that the youngster, whose journey is being filmed by a Netflix crew, had never played on grass in her career prior to her sensational run at Wimbledon.
She was on the cusp of becoming the youngest Wimbledon quarter-finalist since her compatriot Anna Kournikova in 1997, but her emotions and inexperience got the better of her. The future does indeed look exciting for the teen, but she would go a long way by keeping her emotions in check.
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Arjun K
(41 Articles Published)