PORSCHE TENNIS GRAND PRIX

April 17, 2025

Jessica Pegula

Press Conference

J. PEGULA/M. Frech

6-1, 6-1

THE MODERATOR: Jess, how did it feel to get that win under your belt?

JESSICA PEGULA: Yeah, definitely good to get my first win here in Stuttgart. I thought I played some really good tennis. Things were kind of just clicking today.

You know, happy it was quick and -- not easy, but quick and efficient, I guess I should say.

THE MODERATOR: Questions.

Q. There are those days, and probably this was one of those days, where everything looks very easy, I would say, at least from the outside. I was wondering, what was your perspective on court, if you felt immediately at the beginning that the ball was leaving the racquet from the sweet spot and everything was okay?

JESSICA PEGULA: Yeah, I think obviously getting the early break, but just, like, being able to I think get onto her pace and her ball very quickly, and once I kind of realized that rhythm or that momentum, I was able to feel really good and incorporate my game.

I also think I served really well. I didn't really let her in a lot of games on my serve and then was able to break a lot, too.

Yeah, it was just kind of one of those days where I was just seeing everything very clear. Everything that I wanted to do, I was able to execute, which, you know, that's not always possible or the case.

It was working, so I think just strategy-wise I was able to execute what I needed to do very quickly, and luckily that, yeah, helped me out the whole match.

Q. The tournament yesterday announced that each day from Wednesday until the final is going to be sold out, is sold out already. When you stepped into the court for the first time and the arena was completely packed, there was a sort of hype introduction music, you had the headphones in your head.

JESSICA PEGULA: Yeah.

Q. Wondered if you also noted something, like you heard something from the music, from the people around?

JESSICA PEGULA: Yeah, definitely. Sometimes when I walk out, I usually take one of my sides off a little bit so I can hear the crowd and stuff like that. Yeah, it was crazy to see it fully packed.

It's a really cool center court. The beginning, to see all the lights and everything, was really, really neat. There is not a lot of tournaments where we have something like that. It's amazing to see it sold out.

I know there was a lot of Polish fans today, but I can't imagine this in, like, the U.S. and being American, I would imagine it would be really, really loud, so I'm sure obviously whoever they are supporting, it gets really loud.

Yeah, it's a pretty cool experience. And then playing with the Porsches in the background, it's very different but really cool.

Q. The headphones, is it always the same song you're hearing, like an intro for yourself?

JESSICA PEGULA: I mix it up. Depends on the week. Whatever song I'm feeling or vibing to, whatever is stuck in my head.

It definitely varies from different tournaments or depending on where I am. I don't even know what it was today. Sometimes I have it on and I'm not even listening to anything. I just put them on. I like the noise canceling.

I like that I can't really hear anybody when I'm warming up. Nobody tries to talk to me because I have the headphones on (smiling).

Q. Tomorrow is a public holiday in Germany because of Easter. Is that something you and your family usually celebrate? Does the day mean something special to you?

JESSICA PEGULA: Yes, I always celebrate Easter with my family. My mom especially loved Easter. She loved being the Easter Bunny, specifically.

Yeah, we always went to church together on Sundays, and it was always just a really nice weekend where I felt we always spent time together as a family. Now that we've gotten older, we don't do that as much because everyone is off doing different things. It was always really special Easter weekends growing up in my family. So definitely a special weekend to celebrate.

Q. One question on your next opponent, because it's going to be Ekaterina Alexandrova once again this year for you.

JESSICA PEGULA: Yes.

Q. You played Charleston I think in the semifinal?

JESSICA PEGULA: Yes.

Q. I wonder if you think this is going to be kind of similar match with this kind of player or something that can change?

JESSICA PEGULA: Yeah. She's going to be really tough. The last few times I have played her, every time I have played her, has been just an absolute war, battle. I am expecting the most.

Who knows what's going to happen on Saturday? But, yeah, we just played in Charleston. It was a crazy match. Honestly, I probably should have lost the match but was able to pull it out.

I think it will be different here. That day we played it was really, really windy and the conditions were really tough outside. Being indoors, I don't know, we'll see who it favors. I feel like she serves so well, and I feel like she likes indoors, maybe favors her a little bit more, whereas I think maybe outside in tough conditions was more me.

But I don't know. You just never know. We'll see how we're both playing. She's been playing some really good tennis this year, has had a lot of big wins already, had a really good win today.

I'm sure she's feeling confident, and she's beaten me before, so it's going to be a tough match.