Jessica Pegula stuns doubles partner Jack Draper with correction during US Open press conference - 'He shouldn’t be saying that'
Published 20/08/2025 at 10:29 GMT+1
Jessica Pegula stunned her doubles partner Jack Draper during their US Open press conference following their victory over Daniil Medvedev and Mirra Andreeva. Pegula and Draper also defeated Carlos Alcaraz and Emma Raducanu in the round of 16 earlier on Tuesday. They can now look ahead to a semi-final clash against Casper Ruud and Iga Swiatek. The match will take place on Thursday.
'It’s not an exhibition!' - Pegula scolds US Open mixed-doubles partner Draper
Video credit: SNTV
Jessica Pegula had to remind her doubles partner, Jack Draper, that the 2025 US Open mixed doubles is not an exhibition.
The comments came after the duo defeated Daniil Medvedev and Mirra Andreeva in the quarter-finals of the revamped tournament at Arthur Ashe Stadium.
This year’s mixed doubles has featured legendary names like Novak Djokovic and Venus Williams, while also introducing a new format and a $1 million prize.
Draper suggested that the format was similar to an exhibition, but his doubles partner was not having any of it.
"It would mean a lot [to win the mixed doubles]," said Draper. "Obviously it is a bit of an exhibition format, it is nice to play with someone and to get to know them.
However, Pegula had heard enough and immediately interjected, insisting that the tournament was not an exhibition.
"He shouldn’t be saying that," Pegula replied. "That’s okay, you know what he means, it’s fine. It’s not an exhibition, I know what you are saying."
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Pegula and Draper also defeated Carlos Alcaraz and Emma Raducanu in the round of 16 of the tournament on Tuesday.
They can now look ahead to a mouth-watering semi-final clash with Casper Ruud and Iga Swiatek, and Pegula is enjoying getting to know Draper as the tournament progresses.
"One of the reasons I always played a lot of doubles is because I really enjoyed it on the off days," she said. "I always enjoyed it because I would rather compete and work on things in doubles.
"I always preferred that to just sitting around, hitting the ball for 45 minutes and nit-picking what is wrong with me on that day.
"I would rather play, so yeah I am all for it, and I think it has been a really fun experience so far. We are really excited that we are in the semi-finals tomorrow.
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"It is our first time playing together. We don’t really know each other that well, but we are starting to get to know each other, so that has been fun. I thought we played really well."
The tournament’s new format has divided opinion, but Draper thinks that it should be introduced at every Grand Slam.
"I second that, I thought from the first ball we were really good," he added. "I know for myself I am really embracing the opportunity to play in this doubles event.
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"I think it is an amazing thing to get to know someone from the WTA Tour and play alongside another great player. It has been a lot of fun. If I wasn’t playing the mixed here I would be training.
"I actually prefer playing on a big court in front of people, it gets your eye in quicker. I think it would be cool if all the Grand Slams did this, in all honesty, that is my opinion."
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