Blazing onto the tennis scene in 2023, Mirra Andreeva‘s powerful game immediately marked her as a captivating rising star. Yet, her fierce competitiveness has occasionally flared into on-court frustration, evidenced by a racket throw at 2023 Wimbledon and hitting a ball into the stands at the 2024 Indian Wells. Despite working with a sports therapist, noting, “I have some new tips. I have some new advices in a way how to work with my anger inside, what to do when I don’t feel great, how to maintain my level when I feel great, how to keep being me,” the 2025 Italian Open saw an accidental shot that had fans calling for action. What happened?

On Wednesday, Coco Gauff extended her unbeaten streak against Mirra Andreeva, cruising into the Italian Open semifinals with a 6-4, 7-6 (7-5) victory. Gauff’s aggressive style was on full display as she reached the last four at the clay-court event for the third time. The match’s highlight came in a thrilling tiebreaker, where both players fired off stunning shots – including Andreeva’s slick drop shot from a tight angle that leveled things at 5-5 before Gauff sealed the deal with two clutch points.

But the drama wasn’t just on the scoreboard. Mirra Andreeva’s frustration bubbled over during the tie-break, first when she slammed a ball against the wall in anger, then moments later when she tossed a ball over the net – accidentally hitting a ball kid on the way. The kid gave a thumbs-up, signaling he was fine, but fans quickly took notice and flooded social media with reactions.

This wasn’t new behavior from Andreeva. Back in the 2023 French Open third round against Gauff, she famously hit a ball into the crowd after missing a set point. While many criticized her for it, she later called it a “really stupid move” and admitted she was lucky to avoid a default.

Meanwhile, during this match, Gauff stayed cool and collected, using her powerful serve and heavy topspin forehands to keep Andreeva on the defensive. Her ability to mix offense with solid defense forced Andreeva into risky shots, ramping up the tension. The tiebreaker was a nail-biter, but Gauff’s calm under pressure and smart shot selection helped her edge out the young Russian in a 6-4, 7-6 (5) win.

However, fans couldn’t help but compare Andreeva’s emotional flare-ups to those of stars like Iga Swiatek and Novak Djokovic, who are known for their on-court intensity. While passion is part of the game, some worry that Andreeva’s outbursts might hurt her focus in big moments.

Fans come down hard on Mirra Andreeva for accidental shot at ball kid

One fan’s pointed remark, “Kick her out. They kicked out Novak. She is a diva,” immediately drew parallels to Novak Djokovic’s 2020 US Open default. Djokovic was famously disqualified after hitting a line judge with a ball, a strict enforcement of conduct rules. That incident cost him all tournament points and prize money, plus any fines related to the offense.

Another fan observed, “She could have been disqualified..” Yet this time, it seemed like a genuine mistake. Still, Andreeva isn’t new to code violations. Just earlier at the 2025 Italian Open, she got a racket abuse code violation against Clara Tauson and later argued heatedly with the umpire over a hindrance call. At Wimbledon 2023, she even received a point penalty for throwing her racket a second time.

Meanwhile, some offered a softer take. One fan wrote, “Gimme a break on the 2nd one, she was simply hitting the ball back over and the ball boy ran in front of the ball.” Though unintentional, hitting balls in frustration has led to warnings or penalties before. Another fan pointed out, “If that was Iga, it would’ve been all over the news by now!” During her 2025 Indian Wells semifinal against Andreeva, Iga Swiatek hit a ball near a ball boy in frustration.

Swiatek later explained, “My intention was never to aim the ball at anyone but merely to release my frustration by bouncing it on the ground. I immediately apologized to the ball boy… We made eye contact and nodded to each other when I expressed regret.” She also noted, “I’ve seen many players bounce balls in frustration, and frankly, I didn’t expect such harsh judgments.” Yet another fan complained, “All the criticism and hate is only for Iga Swiatek.”

On the flip side, a fan empathized with the 18-year-old’s frustration, writing, “Gauff cooked her! 🇺🇸” After all, this was her fourth match against the American No. 1. While Mirra has toppled stars like Swiatek, Aryna Sabalenka, and Elena Rybakina to reach finals and win titles, Coco Gauff remains a tough hurdle. So maybe her frustration is justified. Adding to this, one fan said, “Okay that’s a legit accident on hitting the kid. And glad she hit it at the wall and not to the crowd. I do not play when it comes to those little missiles!”

Mirra’s aggression on court isn’t new, but she’s working with a psychologist to channel her rage better. Compared to her early days, incidents like hitting balls into the crowd have lessened, and her chances of winning titles have grown. Her mental progress showed this season, especially with WTA 1000 wins in Dubai and Indian Wells.

It’s just unfortunate timing this time around. Even with her Italian Open loss, she’s got a bright future ahead. With Roland Garros coming up, it’ll be exciting to see Mirra bring more brilliant energy and maybe claim her first Grand Slam. What do you think about all this? Share your thoughts in the comments below!