Tennis star jokingly tells umpire about a weird smell coming from the back of the court
World No. 8 tennis star Mirra Andreeva had a funny moment during her Round of 16 match at the Madrid Open when she stopped the game to complain about a really bad smell coming from her side of the court.
The Madrid Open is known for its hot weather that really tires out players as they battle on the tough clay surface. This year, it’s already been tough for big names like Emma Raducanu and Venus Williams, who were knocked out early.
But this year, it seems the worst challenge might have been a nasty smell that bothered Mirra while she played, forcing a pause in the match. At just 18 years old, Mirra is one of tennis’s youngest stars and isn’t afraid to show how she feels on court. She walked over to the umpire and told him about the “bulls***” smell behind her, something the commentator kindly called “a rather unhealthy smell.”
Despite the distraction, Mirra pushed through the smell and won a tough match against Anna Bondár, finishing 6-7, 6-3, 7-6. After the match, she got emotional and said she struggled a lot, especially when she was down 5-6 in the final set. She told the Daily Express it was a hard moment but also helped her focus and keep fighting.
Mirra said she wishes she could have finished the match sooner, and she’s being tough on herself because she wants to close out matches more quickly in the future.
Now, the young star is moving on to the semi-finals after an easier win over Leylah Fernandez, hoping to add a third title to her growing list of successes.