Jessica Pegula has broken her silence on Madison Keys’ being unable to play at the ATX Open.
Following her time playing in the Middle East in Qatar and Dubai, the World number four is back home in the United States.
She is now competing in Texas where she is the top seed, and is looking to build some form and confidence after winning just five matches since reaching the Adelaide International final in January.
Jessica Pegula is searching for her first title of the season and she has made an excellent start to the ATX Open, an event the Australian Open champion Keys was not able to play in.
Jessica Pegula comments on Madison Keys not playing at the ATX Open
Pegula spoke with the media after reaching the ATX Open quarter-finals.
She was asked about Madison Keys, who committed to playing in the tournament, but was unable to do so due to a WTA Tour ruling which lets just one top 10 player compete in events worth 250 rankings points.
The 31-year-old was asked about the ruling during a tournament press conference, to which she responded: “It’s so hard to say because you can see both sides. Sometimes if there was a big week like here before for Indian Wells could have a couple top 10 players.
“But maybe that doesn’t benefit the lower ranked players who are getting into these tournaments and trying to gain points and gain momentum to work their way up to the bigger tournaments.
“At the same time it’s always tough when something like that happens like with Maddie and she is not able to play. Although I will say I think that was a pretty extreme kind of rare circumstance.
“I know she did want to come play here because she kept asking me if I was going to play and if not, I pull out, she takes the log and she would still want to come here. But I don’t think she’s killing herself over it, she won the Australian Open.
“But I think it’s just it kind of depends on the player I feel like. Some of the lower ranked players probably say otherwise. But I think it’s good. I think it’s good for the lower range players, the one top 10 player I think is enough.”
Jessica Pegula has chance to make American history at the ATX Open
Pegula has been dominant at the ATX Open so far and has yet to drop a set.
She was beating Arantxa Rus 6-3, 3-2 before the Dutchwoman retired from the contest, and Pegula defeated Nuria Parrizas-Diaz 6-1 6-3 in the round of 16.
“I’m glad I just got off to a really good start,” Pegula said on court following her latest victory.
“I thought I started the second set well, got the early break and just kind of stayed in some of those long games on the return, and took care of my serve really well today.”
Should Pegula reach the final in Austin, she will become the first American woman to achieve this feat.
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