Mirra Andreeva's Indian Wells Title Defense Ends in Meltdown — Kateřina Siniaková Pulls Off the Upset, 935 Ranking Points Gone
The defending champion is out. And she did not go quietly. Mirra Andreeva's BNP Paribas Open title defense collapsed in the third round Monday night at Indian Wells, beaten by unseeded Kateřina Siniaková 4-6, 7-6(5), 6-3 in a two-hour, 48-minute war — punctuated by racket smashing, a code violation, a demand that her coaching box leave the arena, and a furious expletive directed at the crowd on the way out.
How Siniaková Beat Andreeva: 42 Break Points, Tiebreak Resilience, a Net Cord at the End
The match featured 42 break-point opportunities — 31 in the first two sets alone. Siniaková saved 19 of the 26 she faced, winning just 54% of points on serve. Andreeva won only half of hers, created 26 break points, and converted just seven while making twice as many unforced errors as winners.
Swirling desert winds plagued both players. "I think both of us were a little bit struggling against the wind, so we were kind of losing the games on that side and winning on the other side," Siniaková said. "But I was expecting her to go to my forehand. So I was just happy I could return it well and get into the rallies."
Andreeva showed genuine fight early. She recovered from a 0-3 double-break deficit in the first set to win it 6-4 — a scoreline that suggested the match was under control. It was not. The second set lasted 72 minutes. Andreeva recovered from being broken at 4-4 by breaking back immediately — then lost the tiebreak after missing a swing volley on top of the net with Siniaková holding set point.
The final point of the match was a Siniaková shot that hit the net cord and dribbled over — an awkward way for the Czech to seal it. "Of course I'm happy it went on the other side," Siniaková said. "I was, like, should I cheer? It's a really tricky finish."
The Meltdown: Rackets, Code Violation, the Crowd, and "F— You All"
Andreeva threw her racket after losing the second-set tiebreaker, then smashed it — earning a code violation. She threw it again after match point, gave Siniaková a quick handshake at the net, grabbed her bag, and stormed off court gesturing and shouting at the crowd.
Lip readers and camera angles suggest she said "f— you all, f— you all" to either her box or the spectators — some of whom booed her off the court. During the tiebreak, she had ordered her team, including Hall of Fame coach Conchita Martinez, to leave the arena.
Andreeva did not deflect afterward. "I'm not really proud of how I managed it. I'm not really proud of how I handled it in the end," she said in her press conference. "Those are the things that I really need to work on soon."
When asked who the outburst was directed at, she said: "It was to myself, to everyone, basically. After the loss, I just get very angry, so I say those things sometimes to myself. First to myself, of course, but then, yeah, it was just anger coming out, just a lot of emotions."
The Ranking Damage: 935 Points Gone, Top 10 Status Now at Risk
The sporting consequences are severe. Andreeva had 1,000 ranking points to defend from her 2025 title run. The third-round exit means 935 of those fall off her record, with her position in the top 10 of the WTA rankings now under direct threat.
Victoria Mboko is set to hold on to her place in the top 10 ahead of Andreeva in the live rankings at No. 9. Since her two WTA 1000 titles last year — Dubai and Indian Wells — Andreeva has reached one semifinal and eight quarterfinals, losing seven of them. The pattern of exits is becoming a story in itself.
She had been trying to become the first woman to repeat at Indian Wells since Martina Navratilova in 1991. That bid is over. Siniaková — ranked 44th and unseeded — reached the Round of 16 at Indian Wells for the first time in her career and will face Ukraine's Elina Svitolina next.
What Comes Next for Andreeva — and the Rest of the Draw
Andreeva remains in the tournament in doubles, partnering with Victoria Mboko, and is set to face Anna Danilina and Aleksandra Krunić for a semifinal spot.
The women's singles draw has opened considerably. World No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka — the 2025 finalist who lost to Andreeva — is still in contention, as are Elena Rybakina and Amanda Anisimova. The tournament runs through March 15 at the Indian Wells Tennis Garden in California.
