Indian Wells (United States) (AFP) - US Women's Tennis Association President Valerie Camilo apologized on Friday after a microphone placed courtside captured offensive comments made by American star Jessica Pegula about her Russian competitor, Mira Andreeva.

Published on: 06/11/2026 - 20:49

Pegula found herself in the midst of widespread controversy after a conversation she had with her coach, Mark Knowles, at one of the training fields in the city of Indian Wells in California, was broadcast via the association’s live broadcast on the YouTube platform.

During the conversation, Pegula was heard describing Andreeva, 19, in a video clip that went viral on social media as acting like a condescending star (“a diva”) who should be more humble.”

She added, "I have lost my respect for her (Andreeva). She is a nice girl, but she has to grow up. I don't know, maybe she is simply not good at dealing with the situation."

The world number five was also heard criticizing Andreeva's coach, the Spanish former Wimbledon champion Conchita Martinez, for not dealing with the behavior of the Russian player who won the Roland Garros title.

She said, "Conchita Martinez has lost some of my respect, as she is the one who encourages her to do such behavior," adding, "If I were her coach, and my player had just played four great games, leading 4-0, and then she got angry with me, I would have told her: 'Don't talk to me like that.' She should be put to rest."

Camilo said during a press conference on the eve of the start of the final tournament of the women’s season on Sunday in Indian Wells, USA, that the controversy resulted from “several failures in implementing live broadcasts, despite the policies and procedures we have adopted.”

"I would like to apologize, on behalf of the entire WTA, for these incidents," she added.

She continued, "The association pays great attention to the privacy of female players, and we have policies and procedures aimed at achieving a balance between their need for safe spaces and giving fans a greater opportunity to get closer to the game."

“There was a lack of advance notice and clear signage to help players know there was recording equipment in the area,” she added, stressing that all audio recording devices have since been removed from the training areas.

Camilo explained that microphones were placed on the training courts to capture “ambient sounds,” such as the sound of hitting the ball, and not to record conversations between the players and their coaches.

“It is clear, then, that there was a flaw in the technical implementation and monitoring mechanisms,” she said, before offering a direct apology to Pegula and Knowles.

"I would like to extend a special apology to Jessica Pegula and Mark Knowles," she added.

She continued, "What happened was unfortunate and unacceptable. Jess is one of the most prominent defenders of the association and one of its biggest stars. She does not deserve this distraction."

The final tournament of the WTA season begins on Sunday, where Pegula will face in her opening match her compatriot Coco Gauff, fourth in the first group competitions, which includes Kazakhstani Elena Rybakina, first in the world, and eighth, Czech Linda Noskova, while Andreeva, third, will meet with Ukrainian Yelena Svitolina, sixth, in the second group competitions, which includes Belarusian Aryna Sabalenka, second, and Czech Karolina Mukhova, seventh.

© 2026 AFP

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