Jessica Pegula’s privacy fears confirmed after leaked Andreeva comments.

Jessica Pegula’s previous warning about player privacy has been proven right — by her own leaked comments about Mirra Andreeva.

Pegula, ranked No. 5 in the world, was overheard on a live microphone during a practice session at the WTA Finals in Indian Wells.

The 32-year-old American was speaking to her coach, Mark Knowles, when she called 19-year-old Andreeva a 'diva' who 'needs to be humbled.'

The WTA had been streaming practice sessions live on its YouTube channel, with microphones placed around the court to capture ambient sound.

Players and their teams were not told the microphones were active.

Pegula’s comments about Andreeva were picked up clearly and quickly went viral on social media.

The WTA responded by deleting all practice footage from its YouTube channel.

In a statement to Front Office Sports, the tour said: '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 statement continued: 'We sincerely apologize for failing to meet our responsibility to ensure players and coaches were properly informed.'

A tour source told Front Office Sports that the microphones were intended to capture ambient noise during practice, not private conversations between players and coaches.

Moving forward, the livestreams will continue without audio for the remainder of the WTA Finals.

The incident is not the first time player privacy has been a major topic on the WTA tour this year.

At the Australian Open earlier in 2026, Coco Gauff was caught on camera smashing her racket behind the scenes after losing in the quarterfinals to Elina Svitolina.

That footage also went viral and sparked a debate about how much access is too much.

Pegula spoke publicly about the issue at the time, calling it a 'real invasion of privacy.'

'Coco isn’t wrong when she says the only quiet place is the locker room, and that’s still crazy,' Pegula said in her press conference at the Australian Open.

'You’re just going about your day normally.

Feeling like you’re being filmed all the time…'

'I’ve seen online people zooming in on players’ phones and things like that.'

'It’s completely unnecessary. For me, it’s a real invasion of privacy.'

'We’re already on TV on the court.

You go inside, you’re still on TV.'

'Literally, the only times you’re not being filmed are when you’re showering or going to the bathroom.'

'Clearly, it’s something that needs to be reduced.'

Now, Pegula’s own words have been caught in exactly the kind of situation she warned about.

The leaked comments about Andreeva have split opinion among tennis fans.

Some critics say Pegula should have been more careful.

Others point out that she had no reason to expect her private conversation with her coach would be broadcast to the world.

During the practice session, Pegula was heard saying: 'Conchita has always been very nice to me but I’ve lost a little respect for her because I think, like this girl.'

'I think she’s a nice girl but she’s a diva, she needs to be humbled.'

'She needs to be, like, put in her place.

It’s like Conchita doesn’t know how to do it.

Just stand up to her.'

Pegula was referring to Conchita Martinez, the former Wimbledon champion who coaches Andreeva.

She continued: 'If I was a coach and my girl played four great games.

You’re up 4-0, and you’re mad at me and hitting balls at me.'

'I would feel like, first of all, that’s disrespectful to the other person – you’re up 4-0, shut the f--- up.'

'I feel like Conchita pokes her and eggs on her behavior.'

Pegula then compared Andreeva’s mentality to that of Coco Gauff, the 22-year-old American who is also competing in the WTA Finals.

'It’s so funny when you see her and you see Coco’s mentality,' Pegula said.

'If she had Coco’s mentality, she would be better than Coco.'

'The serve, everything all around and she moves just as good.'