Jessica Pegula has hardly put a foot wrong in her Australian Open campaign so far.
The American has won all of her first three matches convincingly, coming through each of the clashes in straight sets.
Pegula defeated Oksana Selekhmeteva 6-3, 6-2 to book her place in the fourth round, where she will face compatriot and defending champion Madison Keys.
Her match with Selekhmeteva took place in scorching temperatures, which also nearly cost Jannik Sinner in his title defence.
Were the Australian Open wrong to allow Jannik Sinner time off court when he was cramping?
Following the win, Pegula touched on the heat in Melbourne, but suggested there are other tournaments on the tour with more brutal conditions.
Jessica Pegula comments on heat at the Australian Open
In a press conference, she said: “There’s been a few incidents where it just felt so hot. I think most of mine that I can think of probably have happened in the summer in the States.
“Like the US Open sometimes, especially on Ashe, it’s just so humid and also hot. Even Cincinnati last year was brutal. It was so hot for so many days.
“Training in Florida, I think definitely prepares you for a lot of the hot weather. I feel like here, obviously it gets to the point where you have to have suspended play.
“But I find that sometimes it’s almost easier to play because it’s a drier heat, so at least you’re not also sweating.
“I find the conditions where we have to play where the heat is very high, but also it’s super humid, I feel like that’s typically when you see more of us struggling just because also the fluid loss is just so much more.”
Jessica Pegula’s head to head record against Madison Keys
Pegula and Keys have faced each other three times before on the WTA Tour, with their first bout coming in San Diego during the 2022 season.
There, Pegula emerged victorious in straight sets, but Keys earned revenge a year later in the fourth round of the US Open.
The Australian Open is the best Grand Slam… discuss!
Keys, seeded 17th at Flushing Meadows that year, overcame third seed Pegula with a dominant performance, winning 6-1, 6-3.
Their third and most recent matchup was in the 2025 Adelaide International final, where Keys won in three sets to hoist the title.
Receive exclusive tennis news and updates twice a week to your mailbox
