WTA apologises to Pegula for broadcast of ‘diva’ comment about Andreeva

Women’s Tennis Association (WTA) chief Valerie Camillo apologised after a courtside microphone captured United States star Jessica Pegula making disparaging comments about rival Mirra Andreeva. Pegula was plunged into controversy after her conversation with coach Mark Knowles on a practice court at Indian Wells in California was broadcast on a WTA YouTube livestream of the session.

World number four Pegula was also heard criticising Andreeva’s coach, former Wimbledon champion Conchita Martinez, for not addressing French Open champion Andreeva’s behaviour. Speaking before Sunday’s opening matches of the WTA Finals, WTA chairperson Camillo blamed the controversy on “several breakdowns in our execution of the livestream given our own policies and procedures”.

“The WTA is sensitive to player privacy and has policies and procedures in place to balance players’ needs for safe spaces with opportunities to bring fans closer to the game.