Kamal Ghorui
Mirra Andreeva had a rough day at the BNP Paribas Open 2026 in Indian Wells, and the young star knows it. The 17-year-old tennis player lost her third-round match to Katerina Siniakova on March 9, ending her title defense at the big tournament in California. But what grabbed even more attention was what happened right after the match. As Mirra Andreeva walked off the court, she let her frustration out and shouted a few angry words, including “f*** you.” The moment quickly became a talking point around the tennis world. Later, during her post-match press conference, Mirra Andreeva admitted she needs to learn how to control her emotions better. The teenager said she has recently been thinking about players who handle losses with grace. One name came to her mind right away: Serena Williams. According to Mirra Andreeva, the American legend always showed calm and respect even after painful defeats, and that is something she now hopes to copy in her own career. Even though the singles loss ended her title run at Indian Wells, Mirra Andreeva did not leave the court for long. She returned soon after to compete in doubles, showing she was ready to move forward quickly.
Mirra Andreeva says Serena Williams inspires her to handle losses calmly after Indian Wells controversy
Speaking to reporters after the match, Mirra Andreeva openly talked about the emotional moment that followed her loss to Katerina Siniakova. The teenager explained that she has been thinking about how top players react when things do not go their way. For her, Serena Williams stood out.Mirra Andreeva told reporters:“I was actually thinking about it recently. I think the one person that was handling losses very well was Serena Williams. I have never heard or seen her upset. Even when she was losing finals at the Grand Slams, she would always smile and be happy for her opponent that she won the match and got the trophy. Maybe it is something that I can also try to learn. We will see how that is going to go.”Serena Williams built a long and legendary career, winning 23 Grand Slam singles titles and playing many high-pressure matches. Even in tough defeats, she often congratulated her opponent and kept her composure, something many younger players admire.While Mirra Andreeva’s singles run ended earlier than expected, her day at Indian Wells did not finish there. Soon after the loss, she stepped back on the court for her doubles match with Canadian teenager Victoria Mboko.The pair faced Jelena Ostapenko and Hailey Baptiste in the second round. The match turned into a dramatic battle with several momentum swings. At one point, Mirra Andreeva and Victoria Mboko were just one point away from losing. However, they saved two match points and fought back to win 7-6(7), 3-6, 11-9.With that victory, the young duo moved into the quarterfinals. Next, they will face Aleksandra Krunic and Anna Danilina, a strong pair that has reached at least the semifinals in every tournament they have played this season.Mirra Andreeva already has experience winning big doubles titles. She captured a WTA 1000 doubles trophy at the Miami Open last year and also won a silver medal at the Paris Olympics 2024. Victoria Mboko, meanwhile, is still chasing her first WTA doubles title.For Mirra Andreeva, Indian Wells has now become a lesson in more ways than one. The young star is still learning how to deal with pressure, losses, and emotions, and she believes Serena Williams’ example could help her grow both on and off the court.
