Pegula Downs Keys in Australian Open Fourth Round, Advances to Ninth Grand Slam Quarterfinal

Jessica Pegula secured a decisive victory over Madison Keys in the fourth round of the Australian Open, winning 6-3, 6-4. This win propels Pegula into her ninth career Grand Slam quarterfinal.

The match also marked the first Grand Slam singles contest between two professional tennis players who co-host a podcast.

Match Result

Sixth seed Jessica Pegula defeated ninth seed Madison Keys, the defending champion, in straight sets (6-3, 6-4) during their fourth-round clash at the Australian Open. Pegula has notably progressed to the quarterfinals without dropping a single set in the current tournament.

Player Relationship & Background

Keys, 30, and Pegula, 31, share a long-standing friendship, having known each other for nearly two decades and frequently engaging in training sessions together. In August, they co-founded "The Player's Box" podcast alongside Jennifer Brady and Desirae Krawczyk. Prior to their recent encounter, their podcast discussions had touched upon a previous match in the Adelaide final, a prediction that Keys would win the Australian Open, and Keys expressing a wish not to face Pegula's top level of play during their upcoming match.

Keys had claimed the Daphne Akhurst Memorial Cup at Melbourne Park just 12 months prior, achieving a career-high world ranking of five. Her recent season included a first-round defeat at the US Open and quarterfinal exits at the Brisbane and Adelaide Internationals.

The Pre-Match Wager

Following their respective third-round victories, Keys and Pegula established a unique agreement for the loser of their impending match. As a result of her loss, Keys will be consuming a slice of apple pie topped with cheddar cheese—a dessert famously associated with the Pegula family. Had Pegula been defeated, her agreed forfeit was to wear a Kansas City Chiefs jersey featuring the names Travis Kelce and Taylor Swift.

On-Court Performance

During the match, Keys registered 28 unforced errors, while Pegula maintained a tighter game with only 13 unforced errors, including just four in the first set. Pegula's strategy was characterized by consistent returns, taking the ball early, and effective ball movement. The match ultimately concluded with an unforced error from Keys.

Post-Match & Future Outlook

Following the match, the two players shared an embrace at the net. Keys commented on her disappointment regarding her tournament exit but stated that the loss was not an ultimate outcome for her career. She indicated plans to focus on improvements for future competitions, emphasizing the importance of not allowing individual match results to define her career trajectory. Keys also confirmed her full support for Pegula in the subsequent stages of the tournament.