Despite expressing her admiration for the remarkable comeback of Mirra Andreeva in the Indian Wells final, former Grand Slam champion Rennae Stubbs didn’t mince words about her distaste for the teenager’s momentary outburst of frustration during the match.
In the keenly contested tennis game that saw Andreeva, the emerging 17-year-old sensation, recover from an initial deficit to clinch the Indian Wells title, a particular incident raised eyebrows. Andreeva, who was down a set against Aryna Sabalenka, the top-ranked player, exhibited a moment of frustration, firing a ball into the crowd. This act, which came before her impressive rally, was not well-received by Stubbs.
Stubbs, a five-time Grand Slam doubles champion who also served as a mentor to Serena Williams in the 2022 US Open, made her disapproval of Andreeva’s action abundantly clear. Speaking on the Rennae Stubbs Tennis Podcast, the former world No. 1 doubles player described Andreeva’s act of launching the ball into the crowd as ‘bratty.’
“I didn’t appreciate seeing that. I’m no fan of balls being hit out in that manner,” Stubbs said, expressing her dismay over the incident. She further noted her discomfort with similar actions from other players, including Iga, despite their subsequent apologies.
Stubbs, who admitted to having her fair share of on-court temper tantrums but never to the point of firing balls out of the court, advocated for a halt to this kind of behavior. She passionately argued that such actions were not befitting of the tennis court, which should embody sportsmanship and respect.
Taking it a step further, Stubbs proposed a more stringent penalty for players who resort to hitting balls into the crowd. She acknowledged that immediate disqualification might be too severe a punishment. However, she suggested that a significant consequence like losing a game could serve as an effective deterrent to such unsporting behavior.
The Australian’s outspoken criticism of Andreeva’s act and her call for more severe sanctions underscore the ongoing debate about player conduct and discipline in tennis. With her reach and influence in the game, Stubbs’ words may indeed spark a serious conversation on the issue within the tennis community.
