Jessica Pegula shared her perspective on the unique setting for the Miami Invitational exhibition, held on Dec. 8 at LoanDepot Park. The world No. 6 player competed at the baseball stadium, home of the Miami Marlins, marking the first tennis event ever hosted there. Her reaction comes as the exhibition drew mixed reviews from fans who attended.
Jessica Pegula’s Positive Review of LoanDepot Park After Amanda Anisimova Match
Pegula faced Amanda Anisimova in a singles match in the exhibition tournament during the off-season break following the WTA Finals 2025. The second-ranked American beat Pegula in straight sets, with a final scoreline of 6-2, 7-5, which is the first time Anisimova has beaten the 31-year-old in a singles match. But since this match was a part of an exhibition, their head-to-head record remains clean in favour of Pegula.
After the match, the world No. 6 had nothing but good things to say about playing at the unconventional baseball venue. “Yeah, it’s honestly kind of interesting. It feels like a baseball game, the kind of buzz and chatter throughout the entire stadium field. It’s really, really cool, so I do kind of feel like we’re almost out of a baseball game, and I love that because I love going to baseball games, so it’s really cool,” she said right after her match.​
“I feel like I’ve been waiting ten years for this” 😂
Amanda Anisimova on defeating Jessica Pegula for the first time 💪 pic.twitter.com/5QE8mA2h3S
— Tennis Channel (@TennisChannel) December 9, 2025
The Miami Invitational brought together some of the best names in tennis for this one-night exhibition. World No. 1 Carlos Alcaraz took on Brazilian teen sensation João Fonseca, while Pegula faced world No. 4 Anisimova in the women’s singles. The card also featured a mixed doubles 10-point tiebreaker between Pegula and Alcaraz versus Anisimova and Fonseca.
However, the decision to host the event at LoanDepot Park drew complaints from some fans. The temporary court setup on the baseball field faced criticism over viewing spots and sound quality. One fan posted on social media that they couldn’t hear the ball being hit from Row 15 and that quality seating was limited throughout the stadium. Another pointed out how Miami has done this before with the Miami Open at Hard Rock Stadium, another sports venue repurposed for tennis.
Anisimova’s Words After Beating Pegula and 2026 Plans for Both Players
Anisimova emerged victorious, with the world No. 4Â expressing delight at finally overcoming her longtime rival. “I feel like it’s taken me 10 years. So it’s really nice to be standing here today. I mean, Jess is an incredible player, and it’s always tough playing against her, even at the exhibitions. We played in New Jersey last night, and we had another great match today,” Anisimova said. “I love playing here in Miami, so I had my home crowd here. I’m just really excited to be here, and it’s super special to play here at home.”
Both players now turn their attention to Australia. Pegula will start her campaign at the Adelaide International from Jan. 12 to 17, returning as the defending runner-up from her loss to Madison Keys in 2025. The Adelaide field includes Keys, Belinda Bencic, Clara Tauson, and Paula Badosa. Anisimova will open her 2026 season at the Brisbane International from Jan. 4 to 11, a WTA 500 event featuring defending champion Aryna Sabalenka, Elena Rybakina, and Madison Keys.
