WATCH: 'I Most Definitely Was Not Crying': Pegula Hits Back At Journalist

| by Nurein Ahmed

WTA World No. 3 Jessica Pegula publicly called out a journalist during her post-match press conference at the 2023 US Open.

It came after the journalist mistakenly alluded that she cried in the aftermath of her fourth-round defeat to Madison Keys. Pegula was soundly beaten by her compatriot Keys in a truly one-sided contest, losing 6-1, 6-3 in just 63 minutes.

Having entered this year's US Open singles field as one of the contenders to lift the title, Pegula's best tennis deserted her as a clinical Keys blasted her way into her first US Open quarterfinal since 2018.

Images circulated on social media depicting Pegula seemingly wiping off her eyes. These were mistakenly reported on X (formerly known as Twitter) by the Tennis Podcast crew as Pegula being in tears, which Pegula didn't take to heart, and clarified that she wasn't actually crying when she called out the journalists.

Top American Seed Pegula Stunned By Compatriot Keys At US Open
Top American Seed Pegula Stunned By Compatriot Keys At US Open

"Were you guys the ones that tweeted that I cried when I walked off the court? Weren't you guys The Tennis Podcast? Okay. Someone said I walked off the court in tears. I most definitely was not crying. I'm pretty sure that was from you guys. I don't know if you tweeted it exactly. I definitely wasn't crying, so..."

Thankfully though the Tennis Podcast owned their gaffe and later on set the record straight in a post on X that they mistakenly thought Pegula was wiping her tears when it was just something in her eye. Nevertheless, Pegula heaped praise on Keys for putting together a tremendous performance.

"I thought Maddie played lights out, I thought, serving, returning, hitting the ball so clean. I mean, she was painting the back of the line. There really wasn't that much I honestly could have done. I don't think I played my best, but at the same time she never really gave me a chance much to get back in it."

Pegula is still active in two more competitions at the 2023 US Oepn, scheduled to play quarterfinal matches in doubles (alongside Coco Gauff) and in mixed doubles (alongside Austin Krajicek).

'Maybe Her Getting Pregnant Was Good Timing': Pegula On Svitolina's Strong Comeback
'Maybe Her Getting Pregnant Was Good Timing': Pegula On Svitolina's Strong Comeback

Read the full article

Just in

Look at more articles