The first point of the WTA Finals has yet to be played, and the 2026 edition is already set to be remembered for a long time. The reasons, however, are not the ones the organisers had hoped for.
Jessica Pegula’s criticism of Mirra Andreeva via a “hot” mic, Elena Rybakina’s last-minute withdrawal and Elina Svitolina’s refusal to pose alongside Aryna Sabalenka and Andreeva herself have thrown the smooth running of the WTA’s most important tournament into jeopardy.
The governing body of women’s tennis has made a series of mistakes in the days leading up to the tournament that are very hard to cover up. The most glaring was failing to clearly inform the players that their practice sessions would be broadcast live, with audio.
“We take full responsibility for not informing our players and their teams that the microphones, installed to give fans a live broadcast of the players’ practice sessions, were active on the courts,” the WTA was forced to explain after Pegula’s controversial conversation with her coach, Mark Knowles, about Andreeva.
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After practising together, Pegula, believing the microphones were off, made harsh comments to her coach about the 2026 Roland Garros champion, which quickly went viral online.
“I’ve lost respect for her. She’s a nice girl, but she needs to grow up. If I were her coach, I’d tell her not to talk to me like that. She’s a diva and she needs to be brought down a peg,” the world No. 5 said during the practice session that made headlines around the world.
Andreeva, surprisingly, took it with humour. The world No. 3 posted a photo of herself with Pegula alongside the caption “Divas”. Neither she nor Pegula was asked about the situation at Media Day ahead of the tournament.
The one who did speak was WTA chair Valerie Camillo: “I want to apologise specifically to Jessica (Pegula) and Mark (Knowles). What happened was regrettable and unacceptable. Jess is one of the WTA’s biggest stars and one of its leading ambassadors. She doesn’t deserve this distraction.”
Just 24 hours after the microphone controversy, another episode exposed the organisation. Elina Svitolina refused to pose alongside Sabalenka and Andreeva because of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, turning the traditional group photo into individual portraits and shots featuring only a couple of players.
Svitolina, who posed only with Coco Gauff of the United States, Karolina Muchova of the Czech Republic and Kazakhstan’s Elena Rybakina, will nonetheless have to face Sabalenka and Andreeva, as they share Group 2. As has become customary since 2022, there will be no pre-match photos between them.
Those matches, like all the others at the tournament, will be played on Court 2 at Indian Wells, the emergency venue chosen by the WTA after the premature end of its agreement with Saudi Arabia.
Although the Gulf kingdom was due to host the tournament until 2027, the armed conflicts around the Persian Gulf brought the partnership to an end. The WTA chose Indian Wells as the venue for 2026 only, as the event will move to Charlotte next year.
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The organisers’ doubts about their ability to fill the 16,000 seats of Indian Wells’ main stadium led to the world’s top eight players competing on the 8,000-seat Court 2.
The change of country has also brought changes to the prize money. From US$15.5 million distributed in 2025, this year there will be US$10 million at stake, 35.5% less. The champion will be among the hardest hit: an unbeaten winner will take home US$3.37 million, US$1.8 million less than Rybakina earned last year.
The Kazakh, in any case, will not be able to defend her crown. The world No. 1 announced her withdrawal from the tournament less than 24 hours before her debut in California.
“I’m really sad to inform all my fans and supporters that unfortunately I have to withdraw from the WTA Finals this year. I’ve had an incredible season, but my body is simply not physically ready to compete. I’m going to spend some time resting and recovering at home,” said Rybakina, who will be replaced by Marta Kostyuk.
