Wimbledon: Mirra Andreeva, a teen, was fined $8,000 for two separate episodes of unsporting behaviour during her fourth-round match against Madison Keys.
Dan Evans of the United Kingdom was also fined $4,000 for an audible vulgarity.
During her 3-6 7-6 (7-4) 6-2 loss to Keys on Monday, Andreeva was handed a point penalty for tossing her racket and refusing to shake the umpire’s hand.
102nd in the world Andreeva, who was attempting to become the youngest player to reach the final eight of a Grand Slam on grass since Anna Kournikova in 1997, fought bravely against Keys but was ultimately defeated by the seasoned American.
Umpire Louise Azemar Engzell issued Andreeva her first warning after she flung her racket across the turf after losing the second-set tie-break.
When Keys forced deuce at 2-5 in the deciding set, she seemed to hurl her racket again, getting a second warning and an automatic game penalty, which handed her opponent a match point.
“Do you understand what you’re doing? Andreeva asked Azemar Engzell as she pleaded her case. I did not hurl the racket. I slipped. It’s the incorrect choice. I slid, then I fell.”
But the ruling remained, and Keys went on to win the following point, with Andreeva approaching the net to shake hands with her opponent but strolling right by the umpire.
Andreeva had dreaded being defaulted after violently whacking a ball into the crowd at the French Open, and her adolescent petulance is something she will undoubtedly need to grow out of, but there is no question she is a remarkable talent.
She hadn’t played on grass until the qualifying competition two weeks ago, but she picked it up fast, and her combination of excellent defensive and savvy point crafting will see her win a lot of matches.
For over an hour, she was absolutely in charge, but the American switched tactics, following her huge groundstrokes to the net and even broke serve with a left-handed forehand winner.
By the time the second-set tie-break arrived, Keys had the upper hand, and Andreeva was unable to shake her disappointment at the start of the decisive set.
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