Jessica Pegula calls out broadcaster for ‘crying’ tweet after US Open exit

Tennis

by Gina Lemoncelli

Jessica Pegula is not being accused of crying at the US Open.

The American professional confronted a reporter on Monday in her post-match press conference after a podcast account linked to the media member tweeted that Pegula, 29, walked off the court in tears after losing in the fourth round to compatriot Madison Keys.

Pegula, who lost 6-1 6-3, said she was unaffected and even wiped her eye as she walked off the court.

“Are you guys the one who tweeted that I cried when I walked off the field?” Pegula asked, but the reporter remained silent.

The person in question then confirmed that it was part of “The Tennis Podcast” that distributed the tweet.

“Well, someone said I walked off the field crying,” Pegula said. “I definitely wasn’t crying. I’m sure that was from you guys. I don’t know if you tweeted exactly that.

“I definitely wasn’t crying, so…it just sounded really sad. I was like, I definitely wasn’t crying. I just got a wax in about an hour. I have to go play doubles in an hour. I was like, okay.

Following the post-match press conference, “The Tennis Podcast” — hosted by tennis commentators David Law, Kathryn Whitaker and Matt Roberts — issued a clarification on Twitter.

Law said it was he who shared the initial tweet in which Pegula appeared upset after being ousted at the US Open.

“Jessica Pegula just made it clear to us that she wasn’t crying when she left the court,” Law posted on the podcast’s Twitter account.

“I was commenting on the BBC at the time, and I saw her touch her eye when she left, and I also thought she was wiping a tear, but there was something in her eye. I wanted to put that in perspective.

It was a huge upset when third seed Pegula was knocked out by Keys, the 2017 US Open runner-up.

While paying tribute to her close friend Keys, Pegula – who is the daughter of Bills owners Kim and Terry Pegula – admitted she didn’t play her best tennis in the fourth-round match.

“I thought Madi played the game, and I thought about that, serving and returning and hitting the ball very cleanly,” Pegula said. “I mean, she was drawing the back of the line. There wasn’t much I could do, honestly.

“I don’t think I played my best, but at the same time it didn’t give me much chance to get back at it. Every time I felt like maybe there was a window, but there wasn’t.

Keys added that although it was “difficult” to have to play a friend, it was “all about it” when he steps onto the court.

Keys, ranked No. 17 in the world, will face No. 9 Marketa Vondrousova, the defending Wimbledon champion, in the quarterfinals.