Battle of the sexes: 16-year-old teenage phenom Mirra Andreeva ASTONISHINGLY loses to Men's World No.1145 in exhibition
Tennis News
Mirra Andreeva was left in an awkward spot during a recent exhibition tournament, the 2023 Negometal Open de Bourg-de-Peage when there was a sudden battle of the sexes in the final due to a player refusing to face off against her.
Andreeva entered the exhibition being based in Europe in order to get some match practice ahead of the 2024 WTA season, with the 16-year-old voted Newcomer of the Year and was a true success story of the season. In the semi-final, she overpowered former Russian, Varvara Gracheva and was supposed to take on Donna Vekic in the final. Vekic had a shoulder injury so had to withdraw from the tournament instead of getting a direct route through.
Mirra Andreeva vs Yanis Ghazouani Durand 2023 Negometal Open de Bourg-de-Peage Final
Kostyuk refuses to play
However, Marta Kostyuk was set to replace her and decided she didn't want to play Andreeva due to her being from Russia and the continued war between her homeland and Andreeva's. They had to quickly find a replacement. However they couldn't.
But there was one player available who was Yanis Ghazouani Durand who trains at the Peageois club which is local to the exhibition. So an unexpected Battle of the Sexes was set which fans of course did not expect to see at the start of the tournament.
As expected, despite being World No.1145, he showed his physical advantage at decisive times in the tie. Andreeva herself in the first set looked to take it to a tie-break 5-5, but Ghazouani Durand started to show his quality. He won five consecutive games sealing the opening set 7-5 and then building a one-break advantage to lead the second 3-0. He went 5-1 up from there as Andreeva saved a match point at 5-2 down, but ultimately despite being very far down in the rankings, it went to the club pro over the World No.57 on the WTA Tour and one of the biggest prospects in Women's tennis.
It is also another iteration of the war dominating even in an exhibition, with instead of a snubbed handshake, Kostyuk refused to play at all. But given it was only an exhibition, it can be done. This though of course put Andreeva and the tournament in a tricky situation and an awkward one having to pit ATP v WTA to save it.
This reminds me when, Svitolina said to the tournament directors of Monterrey Open, that she "refused to play if she was paired with a Russian" at the time. I believe it was 2021, She was still in top 20 at that time. The difference, [between this situation and the Svitolina one], it was [Anastasia] Potopova, Mirra [Andreeva] was still in the juniors back then. Not surprised seeing Retardtyuk made headlines for all the wrong reasons. She is officially, the new target for the media now, they don't need to burn Djoko for headlines now a days
Why attend an event and refuse to play someone because of their nationality? She should have stood home, that way, she would not look so foolish.
Why allow russian players from a terrorist state still play? Players supporting their friends and family killing Ukrainians. Maybe think about instead of making such a comment.
Why don't you be a politician there, instead of being a keyboard warrior?
The difference between men and women in sports is a foundamntal law in biology. It has never been an issue. Why it becomes an issue now? Because of a strong political push for gender equity. WTA needs to be wise about this for its own very survival.
Why would people don't want to team up with a person based on nationality? Absurd and stupid reasons. She should have stayed at home or better yet, retired from tennis. She brings drama whereever she goes to be fair
That's goes to show that men are inherently physically stronger and better than women. The #1145 man beats the #57 woman in the world in the WTA tour. For all the pro transgender folks wanting trans men to play on women's sports, I say, "you cannot be serious"!
Knew Retardtyuk would skip this. She always been a retard since 2020. Wish she was retired already. Stupid Ukrainian senators wannabes
She has every right to refuse to play someone from the country that is trying to wipe out her's. That is neither stupid nor retarded!
Pro Ukrainian, eh? Go marry her! I'm not your babysitter
She is a retarded! She even shade Andrey Rublev, just because he is a Russian, does not sound like a retard to you? Okay, boomer!
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