Jessica Pegula lost in the quarterfinals of a Grand Slam for the third time this year, and her reaction in a press conference afterward was hilarious.
2022 has been the best season of Pegula's career, with the 28-year-old enjoying a late-career surge. Her achievements this year include finishing as the runner-up to Ons Jabeur at the Madrid Open.
Pegula and Iga Swiatek are the only players to reach the three Grand Slam quarterfinals in 2022. Wimbledon is the only major tournament where they failed to achieve that, each losing in the third round at SW19.
Unlike Swiatek, Pegula lost her previous quarterfinals before the US Open. She lost to Ashleigh Barty at the Australian Open and Swiatek at the French Open, both of whom went on to win both those tournaments.
Pegula might have rated her chances slightly more in the US Open quarterfinal against Swiatek since the Pole is less dominant on hard courts, and the American had a home crowd supporting her in New York.
Unfortunately for Pegula, she slipped to a third Grand Slam quarterfinal defeat of the season. Swiatek won a competitive match 6-3, 7-6 on Arthur Ashe Stadium after Pegula could not capitalize on opportunities in the second set.
As always, both players attended a post-match press conference, but Pegula shocked and amused reporters and fans when a clip of her drinking a can of Heineken beer was shared.
Pegula added to the hilarity by saying she was trying to make herself urinate for a doping test but admitted cracking open a cold beer helped to ease the pain of losing another quarterfinal.
"I'm trying to pee for doping. Although it helps to ease the loss."
Although a funny moment, no one could begrudge Pegula having a drink after being defeated at her home Grand Slam despite a brave effort against the world No. 1.
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