Jack Draper and Jessica Pegula discovered an unexpected bond during their partnership at this year’s revamped US Open mixed doubles event.
Both top seeds revealed they share a preference for solitude that has become their trademark around the professional tennis circuit.
What Makes Jack Draper and Jessica Pegula Such Similar Personalities?
After securing their spot in the semifinals, Draper and Pegula opened up about their striking personality similarities during their post-match interview. The revelation came when discussing their approach to tournament life.
“We’re both the same a little bit,” Draper said, responding to questions about their partnership dynamics. “She is always locked in, got her headphones in, I’m the same.”
The British star expanded on their shared approach to tour life, explaining how he’s observed Pegula’s habits over time. “I don’t think we like people. We don’t talk to them. When we’re around the tour, yeah, I just see her locked in on her headphones.”
Pegula confirmed Draper’s assessment with a laugh. “That’s one thing you said. I was like, How do you…He’s like, I’ve seen you just always with your headphones on…I’m like, yeah, because I don’t want to talk to anybody.”
This shared preference for maintaining distance has apparently translated into effective on-court chemistry. The duo defeated Emma Raducanu and Carlos Alcaraz in their opening round before advancing past Daniil Medvedev and Mirra Andreeva in the quarterfinals. They now face Iga Swiatek and Casper Ruud for a spot in the final.
For Draper, the mixed doubles event marks his return to competitive tennis following an injury sustained at Wimbledon. The extended break raised questions about his match readiness, but early results suggest a smooth transition back to competition.
“I don’t know what I was expecting, but this has been pretty good so far, having not played for a while,” he said after their quarterfinal victory over Andreeva and Medvedev. “It’s important to have a great partner.”
Meanwhile, Pegula’s most recent competitive action came at the Cincinnati Open, where she exited in the Round of 16 in singles and the Round of 16 in doubles.
Why Did Jessica Pegula Criticize the US Open’s Mixed Doubles Changes?
Before their successful run began, Pegula had voiced concerns about the tournament’s approach to implementing changes. Pegula recently questioned the US Open’s decision to revamp the mixed doubles format without consulting the players who would be most affected.
As a WTA Players’ Council member, Pegula felt the tournament organizers had bypassed an important step in the decision-making process. Her frustration centered on the lack of communication between tournament officials and the athletes.
“We were like, Okay, you guys (US Open) just went rogue and changed the format and didn’t tell anybody,” Pegula said. “You just kind of did it.”
The American player pressed further on the missed opportunity for collaboration. “Did you talk to the players?” Pegula asked. “Did you get their input about how it could be better? I think that’s just something that we as players are trying to work with them on, having that line of communication be a lot smoother.”
The tournament’s dramatic overhaul drew criticism from multiple corners of the tennis community. Doubles specialists felt particularly affected by the new system, which altered traditional scheduling and qualification procedures.
Last year’s mixed doubles champions, Sara Errani and Andrea Vavassori, publicly criticized the scheduling change as a “profound injustice.” However, the duo was later awarded a wildcard to compete at the event, partially addressing their concerns about the new format’s impact on defending champions.
