Mirra Andreeva has paid tribute to long-time coach Conchita Martinez after the Spaniard was dragged into a minor controversy involving Andreeva and Jessica Pegula at the WTA Finals.

World No 5 Pegula was accidentally caught on a hot mic saying Andreeva was a “diva” and that she had “lost respect” for the 19-year-old following a practice session in Indian Wells ahead of the year-end championships.

The American was also caught questioning Martinez’s coaching approach to Andreeva, who is competing at the WTA Finals for the first time in her career.

“If I were her coach and my player had just played four great games, she’s up 4-0, she gets mad at me and chases me down… I’d tell her not to talk to me like that,” commented Pegula, in conversation with her own coach, Mark Knowles.

The WTA Tour has since issued an apology to Pegula, Andreeva, and all players for not informing them that active microphones were present during practice sessions, which were recorded for fans to watch live on YouTube.

Pegula is thought to have reached out to Andreeva privately following the incident, and the pair appeared to make light of the minor row after being pictured together during the traditional WTA Finals photoshoot.

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While this is Pegula’s fifth straight appearance at the year-end finale, Andreeva is making her singles debut at the event, having narrowly missed out on qualifying in 2025.

It was been a landmark season for the teen star, marked by winning her first Grand Slam singles title at the French Open and reaching a career-high of third in the WTA Rankings.

Andreeva and Martinez, herself a former world No 2 and the 1994 Wimbledon champion, have worked together since April 2024 and their partnership has proven to be hugely successful.

Speaking ahead of the WTA Finals, the Russian paid a touching tribute to her long-time mentor.

“I think she’s a great person and a great coach as well,” said Andreeva. “I think that’s also why I’m able to progress and play better.

“And obviously I think that the stuff she does with me on the court she’s helping me to improve and try to develop a lot of different stuff, a lot of different shots in my game, so I’m just very happy we’re able to work together and she’s helping me to improve in every different aspect as a person on the court and as a player off the court as well.

“So I think a lot of credit has to go to her, I have to admit that.”

Andreeva’s maiden WTA Finals campaign will start on Monday, with the third seed set to face sixth seed and 2018 event champion Elina Svitolina in her first match.

The Russian has also been drawn in the same group as second seed Aryna Sabalenka and seventh seed Karolina Muchova, with the top two players in the group then set to compete in the semi-finals next Saturday.

While the 19-year-old has never competed at the year-end championships, she does have plenty of experience playing in Indian Wells.

She memorably triumphed in Tennis Paradise in March 2025, beating Sabalenka in the final to lift the Indian Wells Open title — the biggest triumph of her career at the time.