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WTA chair apologises to Jessica Pegula after diva comment about Mirra Andreeva

Valerie Camillo said private comments were aired because players were not told about microphones at Indian Wells.

By , Editor

· 2 min read

Mirra Andreeva
Mirra Andreeva (file photo) Photo: si.robi / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 2.0

WTA chair Valerie Camillo apologised to Jessica Pegula after private remarks about Mirra Andreeva were live-streamed from a practice court at Indian Wells. Audio recording equipment has been removed from practice areas.

Key takeaways

  • Pegula called Andreeva a diva during a private conversation with coach Mark Knowles
  • The WTA said players were not informed that practice-court microphones were active
  • Camillo said all audio recording equipment in practice areas had been removed
  • Pegula, world number five, called the incident unfortunate and backed calls for more privacy

WTA chair Valerie Camillo has apologised to Jessica Pegula after private comments Pegula made about Mirra Andreeva were broadcast during a practice session at Indian Wells.

Pegula, speaking with coach Mark Knowles, called Andreeva a "diva" and said the French Open champion "needs to be humbled", adding that Andreeva's coach Conchita Martinez encouraged her behaviour.

The remarks were aired on a YouTube livestream because the WTA failed to inform players that microphones were active on practice courts. Camillo described the incident as "regrettable and unacceptable" and said all audio recording equipment in practice areas had been removed.

She specifically apologised to Pegula and Knowles, calling Pegula one of the WTA's best advocates and biggest stars who does not deserve this distraction. Pegula, ranked world number five, said she had no idea audio was being recorded and was not informed.

She told ESPN that players had fought over increased surveillance, audio and access at tournaments for a couple of years, and that while broadcasting was good for fans, several incidents over the last couple of years had seemed highly unnecessary.

She hoped the incident would reignite the topic and help push for more player privacy. The WTA confirmed audio will now be switched off for practice sessions at Indian Wells, citing a lack of advanced notice and clear signage.

Camillo said as a member organisation, one of the WTA's primary responsibilities is to protect players whenever possible, and that players deserve better.

Pegula is a member of the WTA players' council and has won 11 singles titles on the WTA Tour, including four WTA 1000 titles.

Andreeva is a Russian player who has won six WTA Tour-level singles titles, including the 2026 French Open and two WTA 1000 events, reaching a career-high singles ranking of world number three in October 2026.

The WTA Finals is the season-ending event on the WTA Tour at Indian Wells. The incident adds to privacy concerns raised by players in recent months.

Coco Gauff called for more privacy after cameras caught her smashing a racket following her defeat to Elina Svitolina in the Australian Open quarter-finals. At the same major, Iga Swiatek said players were being watched "like animals in the zoo" by behind-the-scenes cameras.

None of the players were asked about the incident in the pre-tournament news conference at Indian Wells on Friday, but Pegula addressed it in an interview with ESPN.

A representative for Pegula said she had been in direct contact with those involved and had been completely unaware the conversation could be heard by courtside microphones. The WTA said it will continue to work to raise the bar for player protection.

What happens next

Pegula said she hoped the incident would help keep pushing for more player privacy at tournaments. The WTA Finals at Indian Wells is scheduled to run from November 8 to 15.

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