Madison Keys Reveals What She Plans to Do with Friend Jessica Pegula Before Australian Open Clash

Madison Keys holds a 2-1 head-to-head lead over her Australian Open fourth-round opponent Jessica Pegula.

Madison Keys Reveals What She Plans to Do with Friend Jessica Pegula Before Australian Open Clash

Madison Keys, Jessica Pegula (Image via X/Wimbledon, The Tennis Gazette)

Madison Keys has set up a blockbuster match against compatriot Jessica Pegula in the fourth round of the Australian Open. The defending champion knocked out Karolina Pliskova 6-3, 6-3 before scheduling the match against her friend.

During the on-court interview, Keys revealed she and Pegula had planned a podcast before their match. Both top 10 WTA aces are from Florida and are co-hosts of the podcast The Player’s Box (launched during the 2025 US Open), recording it each week alongside Jennifer Brady and Desirae Krawczyk. But on the court, Keys is expecting a tough battle.

It’s going to be a tough match. Jess is such a great player. She’s always consistently doing well every single week that she plays. She’s such a competitor. She is in every single match. She’s just so gritty. So, it’s always going to be a really tough match. It also makes it hard to be friends, and I think we have to film a podcast before we play a match. So, we’ll see how that goes.

Madison Keys said during the on-court interview

This is the fourth time they will be facing each other. Keys holds a 2-1 head-to-head record over the 2024 US Open finalist.

It’s honestly been so much fun, and it’s been really cool just because everyone kind of gets to see more of our personalities, which I know you get glimpses here or there, but it’s when we’re finally fully not stressed and just usually talking about the most insane things possible. So, I think it’s really cool that everyone kind of gets to know us a little bit better, and we get to give them a little bit of an insight into what life on tour actually is like.

Madison Keys added

The last time they faced each other was in the final of last year’s Adelaide International, which Keys won, before defeating Aryna Sabalenka to clinch her career’s first Grand Slam title. Keys hasn’t reached another final since that win.

Jessica Pegula wants Madison Keys to eat her apple pie

Madison Keys would do anything to avoid eating Jessica Pegula‘s “disgusting” apple pie with cheese, which is the latter’s favorite food, revealing the same during their Thanksgiving podcast. Pegula wants Keys to eat the apple pie as punishment if she loses the match.

Jessica Pegula (2)
Jessica Pegula (Image via X/CGTN Sports Scene)

Jess was like, ‘Yeah, it’s so good. You take an apple pie, you put a piece of cheddar cheese on top of it, and then you microwave it, and then eat it. She tried to make it sound like it was the most normal thing ever, and we were all just disgusted. Our producer tried it and was, like, ‘This is the grossest thing’.

Madison Keys said at the press conference

Prior to reaching the fourth round, Pegula knocked out Anastasia Zakharova, McCartney Kessler, and Oksana Selekhmeteva. Keys, prior to eliminating Karolina Pliskova, first went past Oleksandra Oliynykova and Ashlyn Krueger.

Last year, Keys lifted only the Adelaide International and the Australian Open. In the remaining three Majors, Keys made the quarterfinals of the French Open, the third round of Wimbledon, and suffered a first-round exit at the US Open.

Pegula lost in the third round of the Australian Open, fourth round of the French Open, first round of Wimbledon, and made the semifinals of the US Open. She made six finals, lifting three titles.

After losing to Keys in Adelaide, Pegula beat McCartney Kessler at the ATX Open, Sofia Kenin at the Charleston Open, and Iga Swiatek in the Bad Homburg Open. Aryna Sabalenka denied the win to the home favorite at the Miami Open, and later Pegula failed to defeat World No.3 Coco Gauff at the Wuhan Open.

Also read: Coco Gauff Lashes Out at the Australian Open Crowd for Being Disrespectful to her American Opponent