Friends become “foes.” Jessica Pegula and Madison Keys will play an all-American final at the 2025 Adelaide International. Pegula was a guest at Madison Keys‘ wedding in November which she called an “honor.”
When asked how she feels about facing her friend after her semifinal win, Pegula had the perfect answer. She wished that was the case in every tournament the two entered. It means both are playing great tennis.
“The way I would like it is for us to meet in the final every time.” 🥹💞
Jessica Pegula talks her upcoming Championship match against her good friend, Madison Keys.#AdelaideTennis pic.twitter.com/pZze1j9PYN
— Tennis Channel (@TennisChannel) January 10, 2025
Jessica Pegula shared a story about running out of electrolytes and texting Madison to borrow some even though they would likely face each other imminently. Keys was going to give her some, but Pegula found them elsewhere.
Both players turned pro in 2009 and celebrate February birthdays one week apart. Pegula, 30, has six titles and a career-high World No. 3 ranking achieved in October 2022. Keys, 29, has eight titles and a career-high World No. 7 ranking achieved in October 2016.
With 20-year-old Coco Gauff taking the mantle as the top-ranked American woman, it is nice to see that Pegula and Keys have longevity and can still play great tennis.
Both are Grand Slam finalists. Madison lost to another good friend, Sloane Stephens, in the 2017 US Open final. Pegula lost the 2024 US Open final to Aryna Sabalenka.
Despite being good friends and WTA longtime veterans, the two have only played each other twice. Each woman won one match in straight sets. Pegula won at the 2022 San Diego Open, and Keys won at the 2023 US Open. They have never played a final against each other.
Watch Jessica Pegula and Madison Keys play the Adelaide International final on the Tennis Channel on Saturday, January 11, 2025, at 12:30 AM EST.
