The reimagined mixed doubles championship has sparked controversy at the US Open, but Jessica Pegula made it clear that she was taking the tournament seriously during her semi-final clash.
Pegula and her doubles partner, Jack Draper, the No. 1 seeds, endured a surprising defeat to Iga Swiatek and Casper Ruud on Wednesday, despite a huge lead in the decisive set tiebreak. The pair led 8-4 in the race to 10 points, only to surrender six consecutive points.
The tournament featured elite singles players from the ATP and WTA Tours, who controversially stepped in to replace regular doubles partners. Whilst some tennis stars seemed keen to have fun with the tournament and prepare for the singles main draw, Pegula made it clear that she wanted to win the mixed doubles semi-final and go all the way.
In one moment, Pegula didn’t know whether she had been granted the point or if the umpire had ruled in Swiatek’s favour. The match was momentarily suspended as Pegula approached the umpire and said: “If that’s her point, then I’m challenging.”
Pegula and Draper claimed the opening set 5-3, but surrendered the second set. Instead of playing a regular third set, the new format dictated that a 10-point tiebreak would settle the outcome, reports the Express US.
The duo stood merely two points from reaching the final, yet they crumbled, allowing Swiatek and Ruud to advance. During her conversation with Draper following the match, Pegula appeared to utter an expletive, seemingly declaring: “F—, I’m sorry.”
The American tennis sensation has taken the mixed doubles competition seriously from the get-go.
Draper seemed perplexed and tried to reason with his doubles partner.
“What? What did I say? Have a bit of fun with it,” Draper queried. “I don’t know. I like winning. It’s good to win, right?” To which Pegula replied: “Yeah. It’s not an exhibition. I know what you’re saying.”
The revamped competition was a strategic move by the US Open to attract more high-profile names to the draw, resulting in sell-out crowds the week before the singles matches begin. Coco Gauff made her feelings clear when she declined an invitation, arguing that it wasn’t fair to already-established doubles pairings.
