Tennis star called out after smashing ball at ball kid during heated game

A tennis player has come under fire after appearing to lash out at a ball boy.

Iga Swiatek, a Polish tennis champion, has received backlash online from those who watched the footage of her during the Indian Wells tournament on Friday (March 14).

The 23-year-old, who was ultimately eliminated by Mirra Andreeva in the semi-final match, became visibly frustrated after realizing that her win was surely slipping from her grasp.

Even though she was on a 10-match winning streak at the Californian tournament, her 17-year-old opponent managed to win 7-6 (7/1), 1-6, 6-3.

In the video, which shows the Polish former champ in the third set, viewers can see just how frustrated she appears as she complained to the chair umpire about alleged movement from ball kids behind when she was preparing to receive Andreeva’s serve.

Just moments later, her fury at those movements seemed to reach boiling point as she was thrown a ball by a ball boy.

Immediately after, she turned and smashed the ball back at him, leading to him lifting his arms in surrender as the ball zoomed past him and into the crowd.

Spectators were not happy with her outburst, and a round of boos could be heard from the stands.

As the clip went viral on social media, people were quick to share their thoughts on her behavior.

One user posted: “Swiatek literally hitting a ball back at a ball kid. Poor sportsmanship and dangerous play. I’ve never seen such ugly behaviour before.”

Someone else wrote: “Tennis like most individual sports is a mind sports 100% of the time. If you cannot handle the pressure of losing don't play. One has to understand how to lose sometimes and be able to deal with it, even losing to a teenager. STOP BEING A SORE LOSER IGA SWIATEK.”

However, she did have people rooting for her regardless of her outburst, with one writing: “Although I wish it didn’t happen and that Iga would only sail through with ease and only had happy moments at work, it’s refreshing to see Iga Świątek having a whole range of feelings. That she’s a human and not a machine. Big hug, Iga! You’re still a legend and an inspiration.”

Swiatek's not the only tennis star to be booed during a match, as American Danielle Collins was jeered at for making a lewd gesture towards the Australian Open crowd earlier this year.

Since Andreeva won, she is now the youngest Indian Wells finalist since 2001’s 17-year-old Kim Clijsters.

UNILAD has reached out to representatives of Iga Swiatek for comment.