Jessica Pegula reacts to what Madison Keys has said about her after she makes it through at the Charleston Open

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Jessica Pegula responded to Madison Keys’ kind words about her at the Charleston Open.

The 30-year-old booked her spot in the quarter-finals of the WTA 500 event with a straight sets win over Ajla Tomljanović.

The World number four is aiming for her second title of the season and she is certainly one of the favourites to lift the trophy on Sunday.

Ahead of her quarter-final against Danielle Collins, Pegula reserved a glowing assessment for Keys, the Australian Open champion.

What was Jessica Pegula’s response to Madison Keys’ comments at the Charleston Open?

Earlier in the tournament, Madison Keys shared that she was inspired by Pegula, who reached the 2024 US Open final.

In the very next Grand Slam, Keys defeated Aryna Sabalenka in a thrilling Australian Open final to win her first major.

After reaching the Charleston Open quarter-finals, Pegula reacted to Keys’ comments and took some time to share some nice things about her friend and rival.

“That is cool. In a way we are all friends and we all compete and play against each other but we push each other for sure,” Pegula told Tennis Channel.

“Whether we are friends are not friends, when you see someone doing well, it’s not out of – well, maybe it is sometimes you’re jealous – but for the most part you just see someone can do that. I want to be able to do that too.

“I know Madi has made finals before, I watched her go on that amazing run in the US Open semis when she was up against Sabalenka and lost that tough match. She always shows up at the Slams and I was always trying to get over that hump and to the semis and into the final.

“I think we inspire each other and push each other and I think at the end of the day, at least with someone like a Madi or girls that I am friends with in 10 years I think it is cool to look back and be like wow that’s pretty cool, we were able to accomplish that and push each other and do that. I think that’s a healthy way to look at things, so super happy she was able to win in Australia.

“She beat me in Adelaide and I knew she was playing some really good tennis. After I lost I picked her to get through there, honestly, and she was able to do it so it was awesome.”

Jessica Pegula continues her Charleston Open campaign by Madison Keys is out

Pegula took on Ajla Tomljanović for a place in the Charleston Open quarter-finals.

In their first meeting since the ATX Open in March, Pegula repeated the result from Texas and sealed a 6-3, 6-2 victory, and she will face Collins in Friday’s quarter-final.

But Keys will not be in the last eight, after she was defeated by Ukraine’s Anna Kalinskaya 6-2, 6-4.

Keys made just 48% of her first serves and took just one of eight break points, while Kalinskaya maintained high serve percentages and converted four of the five break points she earned.

“This one is special. I needed this for my confidence. I had an unfortunate start to the year, but it’s nice to be back and playing at such a high level,” said Kalinskaya, who plays Sofia Kenin in the quarter-finals.

“I think the key tonight was to change the rhythm a little bit; I did a few drop shots, especially in the first set.

“I didn’t want to go into very long rallies, because she’s a great player and she has unbelievable strong shots, so I tried to step in on the serve, be aggressive as much as I could, and be very consistent … to keep the level, and I think that was the key.”