- Published
World number five Jessica Pegula described Mirra Andreeva as "a diva" on a live stream after a practice session with the Russian teenager.
asserted
Pegula → publish → teenager
In a private conversation with her coach Mark Knowles, American Pegula could be heard saying that French Open champion Andreeva "needs to be humbled" and that her coach Conchita Martinez encourages her behaviour.
uncertain
coach → hear → behaviour
The session at Indian Wells, California, was live streamed by the Women's Tennis Association before the WTA Tour Finals start on Sunday.
Pegula and Knowles remained on court after the session.
asserted
Pegula → stream → session
The comments, which included some expletives from 32-year-old Pegula, were picked up by a courtside microphone.
asserted
which → include → microphone
YouTube streams of practice sessions at Indian Wells have since been removed by the WTA, but footage has been shared on social media.
asserted
footage → remove → media
Pegula, who is a member of the WTA players' council, also praised Andreeva, saying the world number three is "wonderful" and "smart".
The season-ending WTA Finals, being held at Indian Wells for the first time, run until 15 November.
asserted
Finals → praise → November
Pegula's representative and the WTA have been approached for comment.
asserted
representative → approach → comment
In a separate incident, world number one Elena Rybakina appeared to have an angry exchange with her coach before a practice session with Wimbledon champion Linda Noskova.
asserted
Rybakina → appear → Noskova
What did Pegula say?
asserted
Pegula → say → What
Some of the audio is unclear, but Pegula can be heard describing how Andreeva and Martinez complained throughout the session, even though Andreeva won every game.
uncertain
Andreeva → hear → game
Knowles: "She treats Conchita so bad."
asserted
She → treat → Conchita
Pegula: "Conchita's always been very nice to me, but I've lost a little respect for her because I'm like, this girl - I think she's a nice girl - she's just a diva.
asserted
she → lose → her
She needs to be humbled.
asserted
She → need → ?
She needs to be [inaudible] putting her in her place; [inaudible] stand up to her."
asserted
inaudible → need → her
Spaniard Martinez, the 1994 Wimbledon champion, began working with Andreeva in April 2024.
asserted
Martinez → begin → April
Andreeva reached the Wimbledon quarter-finals last year and claimed her first Grand Slam title at Roland Garros in June.
asserted
Andreeva → reach → June
Pegula: "Conchita pokes her and eggs on her behaviour."
asserted
Conchita → poke → behaviour
Knowles: "She needs somebody to put her in her place.
asserted
She → need → place
Once she gets that, I think she'll be really good.
asserted
she → get → that
I mean, she's already really good.
asserted
she → mean → ?
Look how she moves."
asserted
she → look → ?
Pegula: "She moves like a cat.
asserted
She → move → cat
She's got the perfect serve.
asserted
She → get → serve
She anticipates well."
asserted
She → anticipate → ?
Pegula, who has not won a Grand Slam, then compared Andreeva to world number four Coco Gauff.
asserted
who → win → Gauff
The American was also 19 when she won her first Grand Slam.
asserted
she → win → Slam
Now 22, she has won two majors.
asserted
she → win → majors
Pegula: "It's so funny how you see her and then you see Coco's mentality.
asserted
you → see → mentality
If she had Coco's mentality, she'd be better than her."
asserted
she → have → her
Pegula: "The serve, everything, all-around, and she moves just as good.
asserted
she → move → ?
Pegula and Andreeva are in different groups at the WTA Finals but could meet in the semi-finals or final.
uncertain
Pegula → meet → finals
What happened with Rybakina?
asserted
What → happen → Rybakina
Pegula's group opponents are Gauff, Rybakina and Noskova, and the latter pair's practice session at Indian Wells was also live-streamed.
asserted
session → stream → Wells
Australian and US Open champion Rybakina appears to remonstrate with coach Stefano Vukov as they walk to the net, saying: "Stay here.
asserted
they → appear → net
I'm talking to you.
asserted
I → talk → you
Can you stand here?"
asserted
you → stand → ?
They shared a few more words, which are inaudible, before going to the other side of the court together to greet Noskova and her team.
asserted
which → share → Noskova
Vukov was suspended by the WTA in February 2025 following an independent investigation into his behaviour towards Kazakhstan's Rybakina.
asserted
Vukov → suspend → Rybakina
He returned to her team that August.
asserted
He → return → team
Pegula was among the players to complain about additional behind-the-scenes cameras at the Australian Open in January.
asserted
Pegula → complain → January
…and 2 more, not listed.
The Aporia
