French Open champion Mirra Andreeva was visibly upset following her second-round defeat at Wimbledon, admitting in her post-match press conference that she would need time to reflect on the loss.
The 19-year-old was knocked out by 2024 champion Barbora Krejcikova in a three-set match. Moments after the final point, Andreeva threw her racket in frustration. She also told her player box, "I quit," during the match.
In the press conference, Andreeva became emotional, pausing to compose herself. "Yeah, it's going to take some time, maybe a couple of days, and then I'm going to be back to practice for hard courts," she said. She added that she needed to consult with her team regarding her upcoming tournament schedule.
Andreeva, who has struggled with temperamental outbursts on court, was also seen hitting herself on the head with her racket during the match. Earlier in the third set, a bracelet she was wearing snapped, spilling beads onto the court, which required assistance from the grounds staff and resulted in a hindrance call.
Speculation arose that crowd celebrations for an England goal scored during the match might have been a distraction. However, Andreeva denied this, stating she was unaware a match was being played and did not feel the crowd noise was disruptive.
Racquet abuse at Grand Slams can lead to significant fines. The All England Club stated that any penalties would be determined and issued by supervisors in due course.
Meanwhile, Krejcikova, who overcame personal and injury challenges, expressed her gratitude for her victory. "I have been through a lot with injuries and my personal life," she said during her on-court interview. "The last couple months were really hard to get through with the emotions of what has happened."
