World number five Jessica Pegula described Mirra Andreeva as "a diva" on a live stream after a practice session with the Russian teenager.

In a private conversation with her coach Mark Knowles, American Pegula could be heard saying that French Open champion Andreeva "needs to be humbled" and that her coach Conchita Martinez encourages her behaviour.

The session at Indian Wells, California, was live streamed by the Women's Tennis Association before the WTA Tour Finals start on Sunday.

Pegula and Knowles remained on court after the session. The comments, which included some expletives from 32-year-old Pegula, were picked up by a courtside microphone.

YouTube streams of practice sessions at Indian Wells have since been removed by the WTA, but footage has been shared on social media.

Pegula, who is a member of the WTA players' council, also praised Andreeva, saying the world number three is "wonderful" and "smart".

The season-ending WTA Finals, being held at Indian Wells for the first time, run until 15 November.

Pegula's representative and the WTA have been approached for comment.

In a separate incident, world number one Elena Rybakina appeared to have an angry exchange with her coach before a practice session with Wimbledon champion Linda Noskova.

What did Pegula say?

Some of the audio is unclear, but Pegula can be heard describing how Andreeva and Martinez complained throughout the session, even though Andreeva won every game.

Spaniard Martinez, the 1994 Wimbledon champion, began working with Andreeva in April 2024. Andreeva reached the Wimbledon quarter-finals last year and claimed her first Grand Slam title at Roland Garros in June.

Pegula, who has not won a Grand Slam, then compared Andreeva to world number four Coco Gauff. The American was also 19 when she won her first Grand Slam. Now 22, she has won two majors.

Pegula and Andreeva are in different groups at the WTA Finals but could meet in the semi-finals or final.

What happened with Rybakina?

Pegula's group opponents are Gauff, Rybakina and Noskova, and the latter pair's practice session at Indian Wells was also live-streamed.

Australian and US Open champion Rybakina appears to remonstrate with coach Stefano Vukov as they walk to the net, saying: "Stay here. I'm talking to you. Can you stand here?"

They shared a few more words, which are inaudible, before going to the other side of the court together to greet Noskova and her team.

Vukov was suspended by the WTA in February 2025 following an independent investigation into his behaviour towards Kazakhstan's Rybakina. He returned to her team that August.

Pegula was among the players to complain about additional behind-the-scenes cameras at the Australian Open in January.

The semi-finalist described the filming as an "invasion of privacy" that needs to be "cut back".

"You just feel like you're under a microscope constantly," she said.