Mirra Andreeva curses at crowd after Indian Wells title defense loss

The 18-year-old tennis star struggled with pressure and expectations in her defeat to Kateřina Siniaková.

Published on Mar. 10, 2026

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Mirra Andreeva, the defending champion of the BNP Paribas Open at Indian Wells, was upset by Kateřina Siniaková in a three-set match. Andreeva, who is just 18 years old, appeared to curse at the crowd as she left the court, frustrated by the pressure of defending her title. The loss highlighted Andreeva's ongoing challenges in managing tight matches and the heightened expectations that come with being a rising star in women's tennis.

Why it matters

Andreeva's outburst underscores the immense pressure young tennis stars face, especially when defending titles and dealing with increased scrutiny. Her struggles to maintain composure in the face of adversity raise questions about how up-and-coming players handle the mental aspects of the game as they reach new levels of success.

The details

Andreeva won the first set 6-4 but then lost the second set tiebreaker 7-6(5) after missing a swing volley on set point. She then smashed her racket during the changeover, asking her team to leave the court. In the third set, Andreeva appeared to play more freely once Siniaková was serving for the match, but ultimately lost 6-3. Andreeva created 26 break points in the match but only converted 7, while making twice as many unforced errors as winners.

  • Andreeva won the BNP Paribas Open title at Indian Wells in 2025.
  • The 2026 Indian Wells match took place on March 9, 2026.

The players

Mirra Andreeva

An 18-year-old Russian tennis player who won the BNP Paribas Open title at Indian Wells in 2025, but struggled to defend her title in 2026.

Kateřina Siniaková

A Czech tennis player who is ranked outside the top 40 in singles but is a former world No. 1 in doubles. She defeated Andreeva in three sets at the 2026 Indian Wells tournament.

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What they’re saying

“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.”

— Kateřina Siniaková (Tennis Channel)

What’s next

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The takeaway

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