In a nail-biting finale at the WTA 500 Ningbo Open, World No. 11 Daria Kasatkina battled past teenage sensation Mirra Andreeva to clinch her eighth career singles title. The match was a rollercoaster of momentum shifts, with Kasatkina’s experience ultimately tipping the scales in her favor. But even in defeat, Andreeva showed her playful side, taking a hilarious dig at Kasatkina after the match.

Mirra Andreeva used social media to reflect on her performance at the Ningbo Open, posting a number of pictures that showed significant moments during the event. Alongside the photos, the young star added a playful caption that quickly grabbed attention: “Ending my 2024 season with the final in Ningbo! Congrats to this b*tch, @kasatkina, you definitely showed some great tennis 🙄🥲 And sorry Conchita, hope you don’t kill me :).”

With emojis and a playful jab at Kasatkina, the post highlighted Andreeva’s carefree disposition and strong bond with her counterparts, as she even made a funny reference to her coach, Conchita Martínez.

At the Ningbo Open, Daria Kasatkina showed incredible fortitude by coming back from a three-point deficit in the third set to win her second title of the year. It was far from an easy match, as Andreeva pushed Kasatkina to the very limit.

“It’s been a very, very tough week, honestly. All the matches were super tough. In the quarterfinal I came back from two match points down, and today from 3-0, almost 4-0 [down] in the third set. So this trophy means a lot because I worked on many challenges during this week, and I’m really proud of myself,” Kasatkina reflected after the match.

While Kasatkina felt the jubilation, Mirra Andreeva got overwhelmed with emotion after the close loss and was unable to control it at the post-match presentation. Apparently, she broke down in tears as the reality of the defeat set in. It was evident how much the match and the chance to win her first WTA 500 title meant to her.

Mirra Andreeva broke into tears post-defeat

The intensity of the moment got to Mirra Andreeva as she started crying at the post-match presentation. It was evident that she was gutted. When Daria Kasatkina noticed that, she hurried to the stage and gave her compatriot a warm hug to console and support her.

Looking into that, the crowd found resonance in this unplanned gesture of generosity and was moved by the two players’ demonstration of compassion and togetherness. Daria Kasatkina praised her opponent’s incredible perseverance in the post-match interview, calling Mirra Andreeva’s “never give up” attitude inspirational.

Kasatkina further added, “She’s this kind of player who never gives up, and to win any point, you have to almost die on the court. It was the case, and honestly, I feel like it’s a miracle, the third set.” For Kasatkina, the experience of defeating such a strong opponent added even more significance to her win. But more than the win, it was her gesture in the post-match presentation that won everyone’s heart.

What are your thoughts on Kasatkina’s empathetic gesture? Let us know in the comment section below.