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WTA takes blame after Pegula comments on Andreeva get livestreamed

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In short

The governing body acknowledged it neglected to inform teams that live court audio was streaming on YouTube prior to the WTA Finals. During the broadcast, Jessica Pegula made mixed remarks to her coach Mark Knowles regarding Mirra Andreeva and coach Conchita Martinez. Although Pegula also described Andreeva as smart and wonderful, clips of her harsher comments spread across social media before the WTA removed the session footage.

Key points

  • The WTA assumed full responsibility for mistakenly broadcasting private conversations dur…: The WTA assumed full responsibility for mistakenly broadcasting private conversations during practice sessions.
  • Jessica Pegula had no knowledge of the live stream and has reached out to apologize to th…: Jessica Pegula had no knowledge of the live stream and has reached out to apologize to those involved.
  • Organizers removed the Wednesday practice video after clips of the incident circulated wi…: Organizers removed the Wednesday practice video after clips of the incident circulated widely on social media platforms.

Sources checked by our analysis pipeline: 1

Nov 5 : The Women's Tennis Association (WTA) on Thursday said it takes "full responsibility" for failing to inform players about active microphones on practice courts after private comments by Jessica Pegula about Mirra Andreeva were broadcast during a livestream ahead of the season-ending WTA Finals.

Practice sessions at Indian Wells, California, were streamed on the WTA's YouTube channel this week before the tournament begins on Sunday, with microphones capturing a conversation between world number five Pegula and her coach Mark Knowles.

In remarks that later circulated on social media, the American described French Open champion Andreeva as "a diva", and said she "needs to be humbled". She also suggested coach Conchita Martinez encouraged the 19-year-old's behaviour.

"The WTA takes full responsibility for failing to inform our players and their teams that microphones, in place to give fans a livestream of the players' practice, were active on the courts at the WTA Finals," the governing body said in a statement.

The WTA subsequently removed recordings of Wednesday's practice sessions from YouTube, although clips of the exchange had already been widely…

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