Mirra Andreeva, a 19-year-old Russian tennis player, faced harsh criticism after her emotional breakdown following a loss to Marta Kostyuk in the Madrid Open final, where she was defeated 6-3, 7-5. Kostyuk's victory marked her first WTA 1000 title. In response to the backlash, Sascha Bajin, former coach of Naomi Osaka, defended Andreeva, stating that critics likely lack an understanding of the emotional toll competitive sports can take. Bajin emphasized that feeling pain from losses is part of the journey to success, urging Andreeva to remember the joy of winning. Despite the loss, Andreeva has enjoyed a successful season, having already secured titles in Adelaide and Linz, and is expected to rise to World No. 7 in the upcoming rankings. In her post-match comments, Andreeva expressed her struggle to cope with losses, wishing she could be more composed like other players. She also aims to improve her reactions in future matches while still competing in the women's doubles final at Madrid.