“One of the practices is in the history books”: Mirra Andreeva makes cheeky reference to Jessica Pegula incident before first-ever meeting
WTA
Mirra Andreeva will face Jessica Pegula in the semifinals of the 2026 WTA Finals, setting up a first-ever singles meeting between the two players. However, their upcoming clash in Indian Wells already has an intriguing storyline following the controversy surrounding comments made by the American about the Russian earlier this week.
The 19-year-old secured top spot in Group 2 with an impressive run, defeating Elina Svitolina, Diana Shnaider and world No. 2 Aryna Sabalenka without dropping a set. Her commanding 6-4, 6-0 victory over Sabalenka confirmed her place in the knockout stage and established her as one of the players to watch heading into the weekend.
Pegula, meanwhile, finished second in Group 1 after recording two victories and one defeat. The American will now face Andreeva in a matchup that has attracted additional attention because of their previously unfamiliar relationship and an incident that quickly became one of the talking points of the tournament.
Remarkably, despite both having established themselves among the leading players on the WTA Tour, they have never faced each other in a singles match. Their first encounter will now take place with a place in Sunday's championship match at stake.
Andreeva jokes about Pegula matchup and crowd support
During her on-court interview following the victory over Diana Shnaider (6-2, 6-1), Andreeva was reminded that she had never played Pegula before and was asked about the prospect of facing the American in the semifinals.
"Well, one thing I know for sure, it's not going to be an easy match," the Russian initially responded.
However, she quickly turned the exchange into a joke, acknowledging that the home crowd in Indian Wells might naturally favour the American.
"Guys, please, I know it's probably going to be like 80-20, but maybe, I don't know, if you could make it 60-40 tomorrow, that would be great," Andreeva said, prompting laughter during the interview.
Battle of the big hitters 🔜 #FAGEWTAFinals | #TheUltimateStage https://t.co/6CgjxVsSA2
— wta (@WTA) November 13, 2026
The interviewer subsequently encouraged the spectators to support both players, suggesting that the Indian Wells crowd would make plenty of noise for whoever produced the better tennis. Andreeva appeared to enjoy the exchange, showing that she was comfortable with the additional attention surrounding the matchup.
The comments were particularly interesting given the controversy that emerged earlier in the week, when Pegula's private conversation with her coach, Mark Knowles, was accidentally captured during a practice session livestream.
Pegula's leaked comments added an extra storyline
The American was discussing Andreeva's behaviour when she described the teenager as a "nice girl" but also "a bit of a diva" who "needs to be humbled." Pegula also questioned the approach of Andreeva's coach, former Wimbledon champion Conchita Martínez, suggesting that she was not doing enough to address certain aspects of her player's behaviour.
The comments quickly circulated on social media after being picked up by microphones during the WTA's official YouTube livestream. The governing body subsequently accepted responsibility for failing to inform players and their teams that microphones were active, apologising for the incident.
Andreeva later revealed that Pegula had approached her just a couple of hours after the comments became public to apologise personally. The Russian appreciated the gesture and indicated that there was no ongoing tension between them.
"I really appreciated that she came to me that same day, just a couple of hours later. Obviously, she apologised, so there's no drama or anything strange. Now we can laugh about it, and I think that's the most important thing," Andreeva explained.
The two players even appeared to embrace the situation on social media, with Andreeva sharing a photograph alongside Pegula captioned "DIVAS", to which the American responded: "Divas in Chanel."
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Pegula also acknowledged the additional attention surrounding their upcoming encounter, admitting that the storyline could generate interest among fans. "The storyline writes itself. I guess we had to play each other, and I think it maybe gets fans interested. Whatever works. I think it'll get people excited about the match," the American said.
With their first singles meeting now confirmed, the attention will shift back to the tennis. Andreeva will look to maintain the form that carried her through Group 2, while Pegula will attempt to reach another WTA Finals championship match. Their encounter promises to be one of the most anticipated semifinals of the tournament.
Cristhián AvilaTennis Journalist
Cristhián Ávila is a tennis journalist based in Santiago, Chile, and has been part of the TennisUpToDate team since early 2023. He covers the ATP and WTA Tours as well as all four Grand Slams, producing breaking news, match reports, analysis, and regular liveblogs from major tournaments.
His reporting combines statistical analysis with clear explanation, helping readers understand tactical developments, player form, and broader storylines across the tour. Working fluently in both Spanish and English, Cristhián collaborates with an international editorial team and contributes to comprehensive global coverage. As part of his work, he has conducted interviews and media interactions with leading figures in the sport, including Caroline Wozniacki and John McEnroe.
In his journalism, Cristhián places strong emphasis on careful sourcing, editorial accuracy, and updating articles promptly when new, verified information becomes available. His coverage is grounded in research, context, and direct engagement with professional tennis.
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- I, like writer of this wonderful article, also picked Noskova to win this entire thing. I would love it if she and Andreeva are in the final.Rapunzel12-11-2026
- "Priorities", Saba... spend less time in front of cameras, anti-Social Media, selfies and back to Tennis.
mandoist12-11-2026 - Tell this to Andreeva!mandoist12-11-2026
- Andreeva with 11 games in a row to add to Saba's downward spiral issue !!! Personal feelings aside... Jess Pegula may want to reassess her evaluation of Mirra's abilities.mandoist12-11-2026
- I predicted whenthe list was finalised that Linda Noskova would win the WTA Finals and her matches against Gauff and Kostyuk prove that. She is the best (underrated) player in the world!Rapunzel11-11-2026
- Either Lena has a chronic internal ailment (i.e., colitis, enteritis, Crohn's, or some type of lower abdomen issue) -- or she is once again dealing with 'Vukovitis'. Mental stress can indeed cause lower body pains. No matter... whatever is truly going on sucks. "Virus" excuse is getting a bit old -- and often -- at this point.mandoist09-11-2026
- Ironically, Martina became a U.S. Citizen about the same time as the Orange Convicted Felon & Abuser was just beginning on his road to losing all Daddy's Millions!!mandoist09-11-2026
- "Another fresh start is in the cards." Thanks for the Humor!! I'm guessing this is the minimum one can do to keep all your sponsors hanging-on in perpetuity?mandoist09-11-2026
- Vukov is doing this to Lena... AGAIN!!!!! WTA's autonomous collective should be dismantled for allowing Vukov to re-emerge from his hand-slapping suspension. Just ask WTA employees how that's been going lately as they witness his continued verbal abuses. Women's Pro Tennis should start over.mandoist08-11-2026
- Can't help but suspect Vukov is back to his old self again. Thank you, WTA. Perhaps you can give them a "Battling Couple of the Year Award 2026" ??mandoist08-11-2026
