“Don’t ask me the same question,” World No. 3 Jessica Pegula expresses annoyance at not getting past a Grand Slam quarter-final at her post-match conference in Adelaide

Despite a hard-fought victory over Pera with scores of 4-6, 6-2, and 6-3, Pegula faced same old questions.

“Don’t ask me the same question,” World No. 3 Jessica Pegula expresses annoyance at not getting past a Grand Slam quarter-final at her post-match conference in Adelaide

Jessica Pegula of the United States in action (Via Imago)

World No. 3 Jessica Pegula, fresh off a first-round victory over Bernarda Pera at the Adelaide International, found herself once more addressing the constant narrative surrounding her Grand Slam achievements.

Pegula, who had never moved past the quarterfinals in a Major, showed her frustration during a post-match press conference, saying, 

Don't ask me the same question.
YouTube video

Despite a hard-fought victory over Pera with scores of 4-6, 6-2, and 6-3, Pegula faced old questions. The seasoned player, noted for her determined on-court attitude, expressed her displeasure. She was evidently annoyed with having to continuously respond to questions about cracking the barrier in Majors.

My intention is always to win in the quarterfinals. My goal is to reach the second week, winning each game without looking too far ahead.
Pegula asserted (Via: ESPN)

However, she emphasized that not making it past a certain round does not imply failure in her opinion. She highlighted the players’ shared experience of the persistent quest for success in the extremely competitive world of professional tennis.

Jessica Pegula set to face Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova in Adelaide International quarterfinals

Jessica Pegula and Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova will face off in a thrilling quarterfinal match at the 2024 Adelaide International on Thursday, January 11. Pegula, the tournament’s second seed, began her campaign with a hard-fought three-set victory over fellow countrywoman Bernarda Pera. The victory was especially significant given the American’s poor performance at the United Cup, losing to Katie Boulter and winning against Ajla Tomjlanovic.

Jessica Pegula and Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova
Jessica Pegula and Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova (Via: Imago/ Sky Sports)

Pegula and Pavlyuchenkova’s head-to-head record is 1-0, with the American winning their single meeting at the 2021 National Bank Open in Montreal.

Pegula has been uncharacteristically inefficient in her matches this year. She had 21 break-point possibilities in her match against Pera, but only six of them were converted.

The American was also inconsistent in the United Cup. When up against a powerful hitter like Pavlyuchenkova, she can’t afford to miss these several opportunities.

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