Wimbledon: Teenger Mirra Andreeva exits after point penalty against Madison Keys, snubs umpire after match

Wimbledon 2023: Teenage tennis sensation Mirra Andreeva lost a golden opportunity to become the youngest player since Anna Kournikova in 1997 to enter the quarter-finals at All England Club after receiving a penalty point.

In the round-four match against Madison Keys of the USA, the 16-year-old Russian was penalised for throwing her racquet, thereby losing the game despite leading the set 4-1. Following her defeat, a visibly miffed Andreeva refused to shake hands with the umpire.

Andreeva, who was a crowd favourite on her debut at the prestigious grand slam, was looking to do a Kournikova before Keys fought back. Andreeva was given her first warning by umpire Julie Kjendlie after flinging her racquet across the grass when she lost the second-set tie-break.

The teenager then appeared to throw her racquet again after Keys forced a deuce at 2-5 in the deciding set. She earned a second warning and an automatic point penalty, which gave her opponent a match point. The replays, however, suggested that her action wasn't deliberate.

While arguing her case with umpire Kjendlie, Andreeva was heard saying: "Do you understand what you are doing? I didn't throw the racket. I slid. It's the wrong decision. I slid and then I fell."

Andreeva's plea went unheard by the umpire and the decision was upheld, as a result, Keys won the next point to clinch a 3-6 7-6 (4) 6-2 victory. A disappointed Andreeva headed to the net to shake hands with her opponent but walked straight past the umpire.

Andreeva had feared being defaulted after whacking a ball angrily into the crowd at the French Open as well. While is being dubbed as a special talent but teenage petulance is something she will need to work on.

She had not played on grass until the qualifying tournament two weeks ago but she has learned quickly on the surface and her mix of terrific defence and intelligent point construction will win her a lot of matches.

For nearly an hour she was completely in control, with Keys, who possesses one of the most natural ball strikes in the game but can be very erratic, making error after error.

The American pulled herself together just in time, changing her tactics to follow her big groundstrokes to the net and even breaking serve with a left-handed forehand winner.

By the time the second-set tie-break came around, it was Keys who had the momentum, and Andreeva was unable to shrug off her disappointment at the beginning of the deciding set. She briefly threatened to turn things around again but Keys kept her composure while Andreeva lost hers and with it the match.

(With Stats Perform Inputs)