The Women's Tennis Association has accepted responsibility for a broadcasting blunder that saw private comments by Jessica Pegula about Mirra Andreeva aired during a livestream of practice sessions ahead of the WTA Finals.
According to a report by Free Malaysia Today, the governing body said on Thursday that it had failed to let players and their teams know that microphones on the practice courts were switched on. The sessions at Indian Wells, California, were being streamed on the WTA's YouTube channel this week to give fans a look at preparations before the tournament gets under way on Sunday.
The microphones picked up a conversation between Pegula, the world number five, and her coach Mark Knowles. In the exchange, the American labelled French Open champion Andreeva a diva and said the 19-year-old "needs to be humbled". She also suggested that Andreeva's coach, Conchita Martinez, had encouraged the teenager's behaviour.
The remarks quickly spread across social media. The WTA later took down the recordings of Wednesday's practice sessions from YouTube, but by then clips of the conversation had already been widely circulated.
Pegula did not only criticise Andreeva during the discussion. She also spoke positively about the world number three, calling her wonderful and smart.
A representative for Pegula told The Athletic that the American was completely unaware her conversation was being broadcast and had never expected a private chat during practice to become public. The representative added that Pegula, who sits on the WTA Players' Council, had since reached out to those involved to apologise.
The incident comes on the eve of the season-ending event, which is being held at Indian Wells for the first time and runs until 15 November.