{"id":528751,"date":"2026-03-17T12:40:09","date_gmt":"2026-03-17T12:40:09","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/528751\/"},"modified":"2026-03-17T12:40:09","modified_gmt":"2026-03-17T12:40:09","slug":"after-tennis-racket-smashes-at-indian-wells-one-was-flung-out-of-a-stadium-in-arizona","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/528751\/","title":{"rendered":"After tennis racket smashes at Indian Wells, one was flung out of a stadium in Arizona"},"content":{"rendered":"

Welcome back to the Monday Tennis Briefing, where The Athletic\u00a0will explain the stories behind the stories from the past week on court.<\/p>\n

This week, the BNP Paribas Open at Indian Wells<\/a> took center stage. Aryna Sabalenka started her self-assigned mission to win more big finals in 2026 by beating Elena Rybakina<\/a> to win the women\u2019s singles title, while Jannik Sinner put the brakes on Daniil Medvedev\u2019s tennis renaissance<\/a> to win the men\u2019s singles title.<\/p>\n

But there was plenty else going on in the tennis world, too.<\/p>\n

If you\u2019d like to follow our tennis coverage, click here<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Why the racket smash can quickly become a dangerous pursuit<\/p>\n

Last Monday at the BNP Paribas Open<\/a>, Alexander Bublik<\/a>, Taylor Fritz<\/a> and Mirra Andreeva<\/a> demonstrated the infinite potential of the tennis racket smash<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Another player took it to another, more dangerous level a few days later, when Corentin Moutet, the combustible Frenchman, did not smash his racket, but launch it.<\/p>\n

Moutet was playing in the semifinals of the Arizona Tennis Classic Challenger event against America\u2019s Marcos Giron when he became so frustrated that he chucked his racket into the sky, and out of the stadium, after losing the match. Moutet had already expressed his frustration at spectators and was furious with the umpire on the penultimate point for not calling what he felt was a let. After netting a backhand return down match point, Moutet then turned away from his opponent and hurled his racket into the air.<\/p>\n

The ATP is yet to announce what punishment Moutet will face for his actions, but according to the 2026 ATP rulebook: \u201cPlayers shall not violently, dangerously or with anger hit, kick or throw a racket or other equipment within the precincts of the tournament site.<\/p>\n

\u201cFor purposes of this rule, abuse of racket or equipment is defined as intentionally, dangerously and violently destroying or damaging rackets or equipment or intentionally and violently hitting the net, court, umpire\u2019s chair or other fixture during a match out of anger or frustration.<\/p>\n

\u201cViolation of this section shall subject a player to a fine up to $500 for each violation.\u201d<\/p>\n

Had Moutet done it earlier, he could have been defaulted. Racket smashes rarely result in such a severe punishment, because players are usually holding on to them when dashing them against the court, but some choose different, more unpredictable approaches.<\/p>\n

Moutet hurled his out of the stadium, but Jakub Men\u0161\u00edk, Nick Kyrgios and Andreeva have accidentally bounced their rackets into the stands before. That is riskier because the players are not in control of where the racket ends up, and there is a greater risk of a fan or official being struck.<\/p>\n

Moutet, the world No. 33, will return to action at the Miami Open this week. That event last year ended in another meltdown, when he lost the second set against Alejandro Tabilo because of a game penalty. Moutet had refused to play until the umpire removed a fan that Moutet claimed had made an insulting gesture toward him. He then lost the match in three sets, just as he lost his racket to the night sky in Arizona.<\/p>\n

\u2014 Charlie Eccleshare<\/p>\n

The complex challenge of following a breakout?<\/p>\n

This time 12 months ago, women\u2019s tennis arrived at the Miami Open<\/a> with little idea that the tournament would propel a promising talent on a steep rise up the rankings.<\/p>\n

Alexandra Eala<\/a> had a mixed record in WTA 125 events (the rung below the main tour) and World Tennis Tour events (another rung down) when she received a wild card into the WTA 1000 event and went all the way to the semifinals, beating three Grand Slam champions in the process and earning enough rankings points to rise from world No. 140 to world No. 72.<\/p>\n

Since then, Eala has embraced the freedom that comes with such a propulsive run: the ability to enter higher-level tournaments like Grand Slams and some WTA 1000s (one level below) without having to either qualify or weigh performance against rankings points accrued in the previous year.<\/p>\n

Each season, tennis players compete against myriad rivals \u2014 but they also compete against last year\u2019s version of themselves. Eala has spent a season without having to do that, but now she faces the pressure as she returns to Florida, defending her points as a seed. The 20-year-old has also had to manage the joy and responsibility of being a new sporting avatar for the Philippines, with fans coming out in droves to just about every tournament she plays.<\/p>\n

\"Alex<\/p>\n

\n Alexandra Eala\u2019s performance at last year\u2019s Miami Open accelerated her tennis rise. (Al Bello \/ Getty Images)<\/p>\n

Eala is the first of several players in similar circumstances \u2014 Victoria Mboko and Valentin Vacherot\u2019s 2025 Canadian Open and Shanghai Masters wins had similar impacts \u2014 to go from hunter to hunted, and in a sport of complex pressure dynamics, another will arrive as Eala begins her campaign against either Laura Siegemund or Petra Mar\u010dinko in the second round.<\/p>\n

Should she win, she could meet Iga \u015awi\u0105tek in the third round, who she beat on her memorable run 12 months ago.<\/p>\n

\u2014 James Hansen<\/p>\n

What does Djokovic\u2019s latest withdrawal mean?<\/p>\n

For Novak Djokovic, the delicate dance of his late career continues.<\/p>\n

Djokovic, who turns 39 in May, has made no secret of his sole aim for the next couple of years: beating Jannik Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz at the Grand Slams.<\/p>\n

But what happens during the rest of the year? Over the weekend, Djokovic withdrew from the Miami Open, citing a shoulder injury that he picked up at Indian Wells, where he lost to Jack Draper in the round of 16. Last year, he reached the final in Florida, losing to Men\u0161\u00edk, so his withdrawal will see him drop 650 ranking points, but Djokovic is also in a position where optimizing his body for the events he most values requires taking those kinds of hits.<\/p>\n

Djokovic knows he cannot just play the Grand Slams, as doing so would risk turning up without match readiness, as well as seeing his ranking take a significant hit as other players play more tournaments.<\/p>\n

That would lead to harder draws at the Grand Slams themselves, making it more difficult to face Sinner or Alcaraz in the latter stages.<\/p>\n

This year, Djokovic will have plenty of rest training time before starting his clay-court season at the Monte Carlo Masters in early April, an event he knows well, having lived in the principality for most of his professional career.<\/p>\n

Djokovic has not won an ATP Masters 1000 event \u2014 the rung below the Grand Slams, which includes events such as Indian Wells, the Miami Open and the Monte Carlo Masters \u2014 since the start of 2024. This reflects his changed priorities since Sinner and Alcaraz began to dominate, as well as the limitations time is placing on his ability to win.<\/p>\n

Before the start of 2024, Djokovic was prolific at ATP Masters 1000 level, winning 40 such titles between 2007 and 2023. In the last couple of years, he has had most success at ATP 250 events, using the lowest rung on the main ATP Tour as match practice ahead of the biggest tournaments in the sport. Two titles at that level took him past 100 for his career, leaving Jimmy Connors\u2019 record of 109 tantalisingly within reach, as well as Roger Federer\u2019s 103.<\/p>\n

Taking no chances with the Miami Open still makes sense given his priorities, even if, as Djokovic himself said last year, he would have a better chance of beating the top two in the shorter best-of-three format \u2014 and more chance of meeting them late at the majors with the rankings points going deep at a tournament like that in Miami would provide.<\/p>\n

\u2014 Charlie Eccleshare<\/p>\n<\/p>\n

\ud83c\udfc6\u00a0The winners of the week<\/p>\n

\ud83c\udfbe\u00a0ATP:\u00a0<\/p>\n

\ud83c\udfc6 Jannik Sinner (2) def. Daniil Medvedev (11) 7-6(6), 7-6(4) to win the BNP Paribas Open (1,000) in Indian Wells, Calif. It is his first title there.<\/p>\n

\ud83c\udfbe WTA:<\/p>\n

\ud83c\udfc6 Aryna Sabalenka (1) def. Elena Rybakina (3) 3-6, 6-3, 7-6(6) to win the BNP Paribas Open (1,000) in Indian Wells, Calif. It is her first title there, too.<\/p>\n

\ud83d\udcc8\ud83d\udcc9 On the rise \/ Down the line<\/p>\n

\ud83d\udcc8 Elena Rybakina rises from No. 3 to No. 2 after her run to the BNP Paribas Open final, a new career high.
\ud83d\udcc8 Rinky Hijikata returns to the top 100, moving up 19 places from No. 117 to No. 98 after reaching the fourth round at Indian Wells.
\ud83d\udcc8 Talia Gibson rises 44 places from No. 112 to No. 68 after her run to the BNP Paribas Open quarterfinals, also a new career high.
\ud83d\udcc8 Learner Tien ascends six places from No. 27 to No. 21 \u2014 another new career high.<\/p>\n

\ud83d\udcc9 Danielle Collins falls 21 places from No. 78 to No. 99.
\ud83d\udcc9\u00a0Jack Draper drops 12 places from No. 14 to No. 26 after dropping the points from his 2025 BNP Paribas Open title.
\ud83d\udcc9\u00a0Iga \u015awi\u0105tek\u00a0drops below Rybakina from No. 2 to No. 3.
\ud83d\udcc9\u00a0Alexander Bublik leaves the top 10, moving down one place to No. 11.<\/p>\n

\ud83d\udcc5 Coming up<\/p>\n

\ud83c\udfbe\u00a0ATP\u00a0<\/p>\n

\ud83d\udccdMiami: Miami Open (1,000) featuring Carlos Alcaraz, Jannik Sinner, Jack Draper, Jo\u00e3o Fonseca.<\/p>\n

\ud83d\udcfa UK: Sky Sports; U.S.: Tennis Channel \ud83d\udcbb, Tennis TV<\/p>\n

\ud83c\udfbe WTA<\/p>\n

\ud83d\udccdMiami: Miami Open (1,000) featuring Aryna Sabalenka, Elena Rybakina, Iga \u015awi\u0105tek, Coco Gauff.<\/p>\n

\ud83d\udcfa UK: Sky Sports; U.S.: Tennis Channel<\/p>\n

Tell us what you noticed this week in the comments below as the men\u2019s and women\u2019s tours continue.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Welcome back to the Monday Tennis Briefing, where The Athletic\u00a0will explain the stories behind the stories from the…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":528752,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[72],"tags":[99,1794,428],"class_list":["post-528751","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-tennis","tag-sports","tag-sports-business","tag-tennis"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/528751","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=528751"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/528751\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/528752"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=528751"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=528751"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=528751"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}