Siniakova Upsets Defending Champion Andreeva at Indian Wells

Indian Wells, California (AP) -- Unseeded Czech player Katerina Siniakova upset defending champion Mirra Andreeva 4-6, 7-6 (7-5), 6-3 in a tense third-round match at the BNP Paribas Open on Monday, ending the 18-year-old Russian's bid to become the first woman to repeat as tournament winner since Martina Navratilova in 1991.

The 2-hour, 48-minute contest on Stadium 1 was marked by swirling winds and relentless pressure, with both players facing 42 break opportunities and combining for 14 service breaks. Andreeva, ranked eighth in the world, started strongly by taking the first set but struggled to maintain control. She showed visible frustration early, sailing a swinging volley long to drop the second set in a tiebreaker, which prompted her to smash her racket and draw a code violation from the chair umpire. The match concluded dramatically when Siniakova's backhand on match point clipped the net cord and dropped over, sealing the victory.

After a quick net handshake with Siniakova, Andreeva threw her racket again and stormed off the court, gesturing toward the crowd and appearing to shout in their direction. Spectators reacted with audible surprise, though the exact words were...