Jessica Pegula is caught on camera criticizing Andreeva ahead of the WTA Finals: "She's a diva; I've lost respect for her"

The WTA Finals in Indian Wells arrive with an extra edge after Jessica Pegula , the world number five, was caught on Wednesday by cameras and ambient microphones mercilessly trashing Russia's Mirra Andreeva , the women's world number three and reigning Roland Garros champion.

I lost respect for her. She's a good girl, but she needs to mature. I don't know if it's because she doesn't know how to handle it , Pegula tells her coach in the middle of a practice session at the Indian Wells Tennis Garden.

The millionaire Pegula, daughter of Terry Pegula, owner and president of the Buffalo Bills (NFL) and Buffalo Sabres (NHL) and owner of the Rochester Americans (AHL), Buffalo Bandits (NLL) and Rochester Knighthawks (NLL), also refers to the way Andreeva treats the Spaniard Conchita Martínez, her coach: " If I were her coach and my player had just played four great games, is leading 4-0, gets mad at me and comes after me... I would tell her not to talk to me like that. She’s a diva and needs to be taken down a notch ".

She’s a diva and needs to be taken down a peg; if I were her coach, she wouldn’t talk to me like that

Jessica, 32, and Andreeva, 19, are in the California desert to compete in the WTA Finals. Both have been drawn into different groups and could only meet starting from the semifinals .