Jessica Pegula’s run at the 2026 Australian Open picked up another milestone in Melbourne, but it was what happened after match point that truly caught attention. After defeating close friend and fellow American Madison Keys in the fourth round, Pegula shared a warm moment with the defending champion that underscored their bond.
A Post-Match Moment That Captured Jessica Pegula and Madison Keys’ Mutual Respect
For Pegula, the run in Melbourne marked her seventh singles main-draw appearance at the Australian Open, a tournament where she has quietly built a record of consistency. A three-time quarterfinalist entering the 2026 edition, the 31-year-old arrived in strong form and steadily backed it up in the opening week.
Pegula opened her campaign with a 6-2, 6-1 win over Anastasia Zakharova, then raised the intensity in the second round by overpowering fellow American McCartney Kessler 6-0, 6-2. A 6-3, 6-2 victory over Oksana Selekhmeteva in the third round booked a high-profile clash with Keys, the reigning champion in Melbourne. Pegula delivered a measured performance in that matchup, winning 6-3, 6-4 to reach her fourth Australian Open quarterfinal.
Shortly after the match, a video surfaced on X showing Pegula cooling down on an exercise bike in the gym when Keys walked in. The two greeted each other with a fist bump before settling into an extended conversation, sharing laughs and chatting alongside their teams.
Opponents one minute, @Madison_Keys and @JPegula back the being besties the next 👊@wwos • @espn • @tntsports • @wowowtennis • #AO26 pic.twitter.com/2Iu4WFlaUH
— #AusOpen (@AustralianOpen) January 26, 2026
What’s Next for Pegula As Her Melbourne Run Gathers Momentum?
The sixth seed will now take on compatriot and fourth seed Amanda Anisimova, who defeated Wang Xinyu, 7-6(4), 6-4, to reach the quarterfinals. This is going to be their fourth meeting on the WTA Tour, with Pegula holding a dominant 3-0 lead in their head-to-head record.
MORE: Jessica Pegula Reveals Why Her Part of Australian Open Wager With Madison Keys Is ‘Worse’
The rivalry began in 2020 at the Cincinnati Open, where Pegula won in straight sets, 7-5, 6-2, in the second round. They met again in 2024 on clay at the Charleston Open. Pegula edged Anisimova 3-6, 6-4, 7-6 (3), in the second round. Their most significant clash came later in 2024 at the National Bank Open in Toronto, where Pegula defeated Anisimova 6-3, 2-6, 6-1 in the final.
Pegula also took part in the doubles competition in Melbourne alongside Kessler, but the pair were eliminated in the first round after a 6-4, 7-6(3) loss to the fifth-seeded team of Gabriela Dabrowski.
Keys, meanwhile, concluded her 11th Australian Open campaign. The ninth seed cruised past Oleksandra Oliynykova, Ashlyn Krueger, and KarolÃna PlÃÅ¡ková in straight sets to reach the fourth round, where she lost to Pegula.
