The key facts
- Pegula called Andreeva a 'diva' and said she 'needs to be brought down to earth,' unaware the microphone was live
- The WTA took responsibility and apologized for failing to warn the players
- The WTA Finals will run from November 8 to 15 in Indian Wells with a prize fund of $15.5 million
The remarks made it onto the live broadcast
American tennis player Jessica Pegula referred to Russian player Mirra Andreeva as a 'diva' in a conversation with her coach, unaware that the microphone on the court was on and the conversation was being broadcast live during a practice session ahead of the WTA Finals. This was reported by Life.ru. According to the outlet, Pegula said that Andreeva 'needs to be brought down to earth' and also spoke harshly about the Russian player's coach, Conchita Martínez, while acknowledging Mirra's talent.
WTA admits the mistake
The Women's Tennis Association took responsibility for the incident: microphones were installed on the courts to broadcast practice sessions ahead of the tournament, but the players and their teams were not informed about this. 'We sincerely apologize for failing to fulfill our obligation to properly inform players and coaches,' the WTA said.
Tournament context and Andreeva's standing
The WTA Finals will be held from November 8 to 15 on hard courts in Indian Wells, USA; the singles draw will feature the eight best players of the season, with a total prize fund of $15.5 million. Andreeva will play in a group with Aryna Sabalenka, Elina Svitolina and Karolína Muchová, while Pegula landed in another quartet — with Coco Gauff, Elena Rybakina and Linda Nosková. Rybakina is the defending champion. According to the WTA rankings, the 19-year-old Andreeva is ranked third with 6,306 points, behind Rybakina (9,501) and Sabalenka (7,550). Thus, the participants in the high-profile incident can only meet at different stages of the group stage, since they were placed in different groups.
