One minute, Jessica Pegula was dismantling Madison Keys’ title defense with a clinical 6-3, 6-4 victory. The next, the ousted champion was promising her full support for Pegula as she heads into an all-American quarterfinal against fourth-seeded Amanda Anisimova.

By Shrivathsa Sridhar MELBOURNE, Jan 26 (Reuters) - Madison Keys said she was leaving the Australian Open with her pride intact despite a straight-sets defeat by Jessica Pegula in the fourth round and promised to honour a pre-match wager by eating a cheese-smothered apple pie.

That’s the transition Jessica Pegula and Madison Keys will make when they step into Rod Laver Arena for their fourth-round match on Monday morning in Melbourne. “It’s a very niche headline,” Keys joked. For these two Americans, neither of whom is known as a diva or a trash talker, it will be business as usual.

Jessica Pegula won a friendly bet with podcast co-host Madison Keys following their match in the Australian Open.

American tennis star Madison Keys is using her platform to call for unity and change. During a press availability at the Australian Open, Keys was asked to weigh in on Year 1 of Trump’s second term in office. She decided to take the moment to highlight America’s diversity.

Madison Keys ended a sometimes agonizing decade of trying to win a Grand Slam singles title last year at the Australian Open. In the ensuing days, weeks and months, people of all stripes approached her to ask how the experience had changed her life.

Pegula funnily addresses facing Keys in the Australian Open round-of-16.

Madison Keys is known as one of the strongest hitters on the WTA Tour, highlighted by her win at the 2025 Australian Open. She has 10 WTA titles and a Grand Slam victory, but her background also stands out.