“Unbelievable! Fans outraged as Iga Swiatek hits ball toward ball kid during heated Indian Wells semi-final defeat.”

Iga Swiatek faced backlash after an outburst during her Indian Wells defeat to Mirra Andreeva. The world number two, frustrated with her performance, hit the ball into the ground after receiving it from a ball kid, narrowly missing them before it landed in the stands.

The incident, which occurred during her Round of 32 match, led to boos from the crowd and widespread criticism on social media. Some fans accused Swiatek of poor sportsmanship, while others called for her disqualification. Despite the controversy, she has not publicly addressed the situation.

Meanwhile, Andreeva celebrated her second consecutive victory over Swiatek, having previously defeated her in Dubai. The 17-year-old will now face world number one Aryna Sabalenka in the final, marking a significant moment in her rising career.