"I most definitely was not crying," the American clarified, after an innocent wipe of the eye generated dramatic headlines in the wake of her 6-1, 6-3 defeat.
Published Sep 05, 2023
WATCH: Jelena Ostapenko Hooks Fan Up With Ticket After DM Request, Then Dethrones Iga Swiatek | US Open
Jessica Pegula would like you to know that she was in fact not crying as she left the court, following her 6-1, 6-3 rout against Madison Keys at the US Open. There was just something in her eye.
The American has been one of the most consistent players of the year, and she cemented her status as a US Open favorite when she picked up her second WTA 1000 title in Montreal in the build-up to Flushing Meadows. The biggest question surrounding Pegula was whether she would be able to translate that success into a Grand Slam breakthrough, having reached six major quarterfinals without progressing to the last four.
She’ll have to keep waiting until the next major, after Pegula won just four games in her fourth-round match with Keys. But the disappointment wasn’t enough to make her break down in tears on her way out of Arthur Ashe Stadium—despite the wave of overwrought headlines and posts stating otherwise.

Pegula touches her face after a 6-1, 6-3 defeat, and causes headlines around the world.
© Associated Press
During her post-match press conference, the American set the record straight after spotting some of the journalists who made the incorrect reports:
JESSICA PEGULA: Were you guys the ones that tweeted that I cried when I walked off the court? Weren't you guys The Tennis Podcast?
Q. Yeah.
JESSICA PEGULA: Okay. Someone said I walked off the court in tears. I most definitely was not crying. I'm pretty sure that was from you guys. I don't know if you tweeted it exactly. I definitely wasn't crying, so…
It just sounded really sad. I definitely wasn't crying. I just got waxed in like an hour. I got to go play doubles in an hour. I was like, Okay. Anyways…
To their credit, the journalists—hosts of the popular The Tennis Podcast—immediately issued a clarification afterward:
DL: Jessica Pegula clarified to us just now that she was not crying as she left the court. I was on BBC commentary at the time, saw her touch her eye as she left and also thought she was wiping a tear away, but it was just something in her eye. Wanted to set that straight. https://t.co/JuxkdvRI1E
— The Tennis Podcast (@TennisPodcast) September 4, 2023
In fact, Pegula had plenty of praise for good friend and countrywoman Keys, who reached her second Grand Slam quarterfinal of the year with the victory.
“I thought Maddie played lights out, I thought, serving, returning, hitting the ball so clean,” Pegula acknowledged. “I mean, she was painting the back of the line. There really wasn't that much I honestly could have done.
“I don't think I played my best, but at the same time she never really gave me a chance much to get back in it. Every time I felt like maybe there was a window, just wasn't happening.
“I think it was a combination of things. But honestly, we all know how she can play. She's still a huge threat when she can play like that.”
No. 17 seed Keys will take on No. 9 seed Marketa Vondrousova, the reigning Wimbledon champion, in the quarterfinals.
Quote of the Day: Jessica Pegula sets the record straight - She did ... - Tennis Magazine
"I most definitely was not crying," the American clarified, after an innocent wipe of the eye generated dramatic headlines in the wake of her 6-1, 6-3 defeat.
Published Sep 05, 2023
WATCH: Jelena Ostapenko Hooks Fan Up With Ticket After DM Request, Then Dethrones Iga Swiatek | US Open
Jessica Pegula would like you to know that she was in fact not crying as she left the court, following her 6-1, 6-3 rout against Madison Keys at the US Open. There was just something in her eye.
The American has been one of the most consistent players of the year, and she cemented her status as a US Open favorite when she picked up her second WTA 1000 title in Montreal in the build-up to Flushing Meadows. The biggest question surrounding Pegula was whether she would be able to translate that success into a Grand Slam breakthrough, having reached six major quarterfinals without progressing to the last four.
She’ll have to keep waiting until the next major, after Pegula won just four games in her fourth-round match with Keys. But the disappointment wasn’t enough to make her break down in tears on her way out of Arthur Ashe Stadium—despite the wave of overwrought headlines and posts stating otherwise.

Pegula touches her face after a 6-1, 6-3 defeat, and causes headlines around the world.
© Associated Press
During her post-match press conference, the American set the record straight after spotting some of the journalists who made the incorrect reports:
JESSICA PEGULA: Were you guys the ones that tweeted that I cried when I walked off the court? Weren't you guys The Tennis Podcast?
Q. Yeah.
JESSICA PEGULA: Okay. Someone said I walked off the court in tears. I most definitely was not crying. I'm pretty sure that was from you guys. I don't know if you tweeted it exactly. I definitely wasn't crying, so…
It just sounded really sad. I definitely wasn't crying. I just got waxed in like an hour. I got to go play doubles in an hour. I was like, Okay. Anyways…
To their credit, the journalists—hosts of the popular The Tennis Podcast—immediately issued a clarification afterward:
DL: Jessica Pegula clarified to us just now that she was not crying as she left the court. I was on BBC commentary at the time, saw her touch her eye as she left and also thought she was wiping a tear away, but it was just something in her eye. Wanted to set that straight. https://t.co/JuxkdvRI1E
— The Tennis Podcast (@TennisPodcast) September 4, 2023
In fact, Pegula had plenty of praise for good friend and countrywoman Keys, who reached her second Grand Slam quarterfinal of the year with the victory.
“I thought Maddie played lights out, I thought, serving, returning, hitting the ball so clean,” Pegula acknowledged. “I mean, she was painting the back of the line. There really wasn't that much I honestly could have done.
“I don't think I played my best, but at the same time she never really gave me a chance much to get back in it. Every time I felt like maybe there was a window, just wasn't happening.
“I think it was a combination of things. But honestly, we all know how she can play. She's still a huge threat when she can play like that.”
No. 17 seed Keys will take on No. 9 seed Marketa Vondrousova, the reigning Wimbledon champion, in the quarterfinals.
Thanks for reading Quote of the Day: Jessica Pegula sets the record straight - She did ... - Tennis Magazine. Please share...!
RELATED POSTS
Created with Sketch. Quote of the Day: Up from Slavery - Ricochet.com “More than once I have tried to picture myself in the position of a boy or man with an honored and distinguished ancestry which I…
Quotation of the Day: Houses of Prayer, Hope and Testing for Most Affected - The New York Times “I know I’m not superwoman. I’m not going to do reckless things and risk reinfecting myself or reinfecting my parents.” IMARI R…
Quote Of The Day, June 11, 2020 - The Hayride “Every record has been destroyed or falsified, every book has been rewritten, every picture has been repainted, every statue and…
Quotation of the Day: Zoom Briefly Blocks Activist After Event to Honor Tiananmen - The New York Times “We can’t stand that an American company put Chinese-style restrictions on users in the U.S.” ZHOU FENGSUO, a resident of the U…
Ryan's Quote of the Day - June 12, 2020 | On Air with Ryan Seacrest | Ryan Seacrest - iHeartRadio Podcasts Show Blog Contact Advertise with On Air with Ryan Seacrest, Get Results Download The Free iHeartRadio App Find a Podca…
0 Comment for "Quote of the Day: Jessica Pegula sets the record straight - She did ... - Tennis Magazine"