On Wednesday at Indian Wells, after practice, Jessica Pegula talked about Mirra Andreeva with her coach, Mark Knowles according to Belgian daily DH. The microphones on the WTA Finals stream were on. She said “She’s nice but she’s a diva”, that she needed “to be put in her place”, that she had to become more humble. She also praised her movement, her serve and her vision of the game. And on Conchita Martínez: “I’ve lost a bit of respect for her”.
What interests me, technically, is the pattern. Practice, towel on the bench, debrief with the coach. That’s exactly my Tuesday evening. Except that on court 4, the only plugged-in device is the strip light, and it transmits nothing, it flickers.
Her representative, Chris McCormack, says she didn’t know the session was being broadcast and that she contacted Mirra Andreeva immediately. On Thursday, the WTA accepted “full responsibility” for not telling players and coaches. Video removed from YouTube, and no more practice streams, according to Belgian outlet HLN.
I ran the test on Sunday. Before the interclubs doubles (Belgium’s weekend team league), I turned my phone face down on the stats folder. My partner asked if I was afraid of being recorded. I said yes, at my level too, tactical intentions are sensitive. The level in club league has gone way up, people don’t realise.
Céline, your tactical intentions are “high ball to the backhand”. The whole world can hear it.
He’s wrong, but he said it at the bar, with no microphone, so it doesn’t count.
What I take away for what comes next: two different groups, and according to HLN, Pegula and Andreeva could only meet in the semi-finals. They have never played each other in singles. On Sunday, Pegula opens against Coco Gauff, world No. 4. Me, at the changeover, I’ll talk about the weather. Maybe it’s bucketing down indoors, you never know who’s listening.
It’s true, we checked: DH Les Sports+.
