In the aftermath of a heated match at the Miami Open, American tennis player Amanda Anisimova seems to have subtly thrown shade at Russian player Mirra Andreeva. The incident unfolded on Anisimova’s Instagram story where she displayed a middle finger, purportedly directed at Andreeva, while showcasing a blister which had forced her to halt the match momentarily.
The tension erupted during the third set of their Miami Open face-off, with Anisimova leading 3-1. Andreeva, who holds the titles of both Dubai and Indian Wells, was 40/30 ahead on her serve in the fifth game when the 23-year-old Anisimova paused the match, citing a blister on her right hand that required immediate medical attention.
Andreeva, however, seemed unimpressed with this interruption, cryptically stating, “We all know why.” The 17-year-old’s comment was widely interpreted as a suggestion that Anisimova’s call for a trainer was a tactical move to disrupt her momentum.
Although Andreeva managed to clinch the game after the match resumed, saving two break points in the process, she was unable to stage a comeback. Eventually, Anisimova, the world’s 17th-ranked player, emerged victorious with a 7-6 (5) 2-6 6-3 scoreline.
The controversy didn’t end on the court. In the locker room, Anisimova took to Instagram to document her blister while simultaneously flashing a middle finger, an act widely seen as a response to Andreeva’s earlier comment. Her caption, “‘We all know why’ at 3-1 up was a good one coming from the 1-2 first set medical” accompanied by laughing emojis, seemed to further confirm this interpretation.
However, in her post-match press interaction, Anisimova chose to downplay the incident. She clarified, “My skin broke on my finger. When you get an acute injury, you’re allowed to take a timeout, so that’s what I did.” Despite the on-court tension, she had generous words for Andreeva, calling her an ‘amazing player’ and acknowledging that the match was a challenging one.
Anisimova, who has won three WTA titles, expressed her excitement about playing in the Miami Open, her fourth participation in the tournament, and the first time she played on a big stadium. She is now set to compete against Emma Raducanu in the Miami Open round-of-16.