16-year-old Andreeva’s Wimbledon run ends in controversy

Russian teenager Mirra Andreeva was given a point penalty for throwing her racket and refused to shake the umpire’s hand during her 3-6 7-6 (7-4) 6-2 loss to Madison Keys at Wimbledon on Monday.

World No 102 Andreeva, who was looking to become the youngest player to reach the last eight of the grass-court Grand Slam since Anna Kournikova in 1997, fought valiantly against Keys but was ultimately overwhelmed by the American.

Andreeva was given her first warning by umpire Louise Azemar Engzell after flinging her racket across the grass when she lost the second-set tie-break.

She then appeared to throw her racket again when Keys forced deuce at 2-5 in the deciding set, earning a second warning and an automatic point penalty, which gave her opponent a match point.

Andreeva argued her case with Azemar Engzell, saying: “Do you understand what you are doing? I didn’t throw the racket. I slid. It’s the wrong decision. I slid and then I fell.”

But the decision stood and Keys won the next point to clinch victory, with Andreeva heading to the net to shake hands with her opponent but walking straight past the umpire.