Jessica Pegula has extinguished the hopes of defending champion Madison Keys at Australian Open 2026.
The sixth seed prevailed 6-3 6-4 over her countrywoman, friend and podcast co-host in one hour and 18 minutes on Monday.
MORE: All the scores from AO 2026
Rod Laver Arena provided a fitting stage for the blockbuster all-American clash, their first since Keys upset Pegula in the final of the 2025 Adelaide International, a precursor to her memorable run to a maiden Grand Slam title.
“I’ve been playing really well, seeing the ball, hitting the ball really well this whole tournament and I wanted to stay true to that,” Pegula said.
“I really had to focus on where I was serving and be smart, take some risks on some second serves, change up the pace as much as I could.”
“Sometimes my serve, it comes right into her and it comes back a bit faster, even if I hit a good serve, so I had to really trust that I was able to change speeds and hit my spots.”
Previewing the encounter in an episode of The Player’s Box podcast, which the duo co-host alongside AO 2021 finalist Jennifer Brady and doubles specialist Desirae Krawczyk, Keys acknowledged it was a tough match-up.
“I’ve always been really impressed with just how steady Jess is, that she’s always going to make the best decisions and she’s got that sneaky drop shot that you always have to be looking out for,” the ninth seed said.
In fact, whenever the 30-year-old Keys consistently reaches the last eight or better at multiple tournaments in a row, she’s reminded of her friend’s sturdiness, and describes it as being “in my Pegula era.”
“Jess is like, always winning.”
In their fourth-round battle, 2024 US Open finalist Pegula lived up to her reputation.
Watched by USA Billie Jean King Cup captain and AO 2000 champion Lindsay Davenport, Pegula began proceedings by holding to love and surged to a 2-0 lead by breaking in Keys’ opening service game.
In the sixth game, Keys put her hand over her face after hitting an overhead that missed the court and flew into the stands, before regrouping to hold.
Keys earned her first break point opportunities of the match in the next game, and although Pegula did her best to keep her opponent off-balance by mixing up the pace of her serves and groundstrokes, the No.6 seed donated a backhand error to concede the break advantage.
Two minutes later, thanks to four consecutive unforced errors from Keys, Pegula regained the break and let out a battle cry of “Come on!” after successfully serving for the set.
In the opening game of the second set, Keys served a pair of back-to-back double faults to give her rival a break point, only to fend it off with a much needed 180 km/h ace, her first of the match, prompting a “Come on!” of her own. But another double fault from the ninth seed gifted Pegula an early break.
Keys, one of the most gifted ball-strikers on the women’s tour, continued going for her shots. A searing backhand winner in the fourth game earned her break point, though she was unable to capture it.
Though Pegula gained a so-called insurance break, edging ahead for a 4-1 lead, her compatriot snatched one break back by punishing a 147 km/h second serve with a blistering forehand return winner.
Encouraged by coach and husband Bjorn Fratangelo to find ways to deploy that booming forehand, Keys did exactly that in the eighth game to set up another break point chance, but Pegula saved it by serving into Keys’ backhand.
The defending champion held serve to stay in the tournament at 3-5, putting the match on Pegula’s racquet.
But Pegula, accustomed to big occasions, executed one of the drop shots that Keys had been rightfully wary of en-route to setting up a pair of match points. On the first, Keys misfired a forehand into the net to hand Pegula the win before the duo shared a warm embrace.
Pegula’s triumph in the first all-American women’s singles fourth round battle at Melbourne Park since AO 2020 champion Sofia Kenin defeated Coco Gauff grants her entry to a fourth AO quarterfinal, and first since 2023.
By levelling her head-to-head record against Keys to 2-2, the 31-year-old won a friendly wager – that Keys must try apple pie doused with melted cheddar cheese, a Pegula family delicacy.
“Honestly, had a lot of motivation today,” Pegula said. Her win meant she was able to avoid her end of the wager - to wear a Travis Kelce Kansas City Chiefs jersey.
In Wednesday’s quarterfinal, Pegula will face compatriot Amanda Anisimova after the fourth seed prevailed over Wang Xinyu in straight sets.
“At least one of us will get through and I think that's great for American tennis,” Pegula said. “It's been pretty crazy how well the women have been doing and how many top-ranked girls there are. I'm just happy to be a part of that conversation.”