ROLAND GARROS

May 29, 2025

Jessica Pegula

Press Conference

J. PEGULA/A. Li

6-3, 7-6

THE MODERATOR: Well done. Another strong performance from you. Talk us through your thoughts on your performance today.

JESSICA PEGULA: It was a really tough match today. I knew it was going to be tricky. Ann has been playing some really good tennis this year and had a lot of close matches with good players. It was tricky with the wind. She was slicing a lot, kind of making me earn a lot of points.

I felt like it was a pretty physical match, a lot of long points and long games. But, happy I was able to kind of hold on to that second set there definitely.

THE MODERATOR: Questions.

Q. Wondered how different the conditions felt today, obviously the sun kind of finally came out, compared to your first round.

JESSICA PEGULA: Yeah, totally different. It was sunny. You kind of feel the sun a little bit today, whereas the last match was cold, rainy, roof closed kind of at the end of our match. Much different.

But, I mean, to be expected in Paris. I feel like every single day is different. I played here in so many different conditions. Happy that it was kind of a nicer day out today. Always makes things, I feel like, easier.

But it was still pretty windy, which I haven't played on Chatrier in a little bit. But for my experience, it always is kind of windy.

So it was similar today.

Q. (Off mic.)

JESSICA PEGULA: I mean, maybe a little more bouncy, maybe a little more lively I would say, when the sun is kind of sitting on it. I felt like it played good. It wasn't too fast, wasn't too slow or anything like that.

I think when the sun is not out, the clay kind of stays more wet, so the balls are maybe a little more heavier.

Today, it was playing nice. It was nice conditions today.

Q. I want to ask you about the nose strip that some players are wearing. They say that this has improved their breathing. Wondering if this is something that you are interested in? Have you ever tried wearing one? Even considering it?

JESSICA PEGULA: Yeah, maybe. I have, like, a horrible deviated septum. I can't really breathe out of one side of my nose. Maybe I should start wearing one (smiling).

I have worn one to sleep before. It's kind of similar I think where it just kind of opens up your nasal passages.

I don't know if I have the confidence to rock one. But yeah, if it helps them breathe, maybe I should consider it (smiling).

Q. Performance-wise, do you think this could affect your game?

JESSICA PEGULA: Yeah. My old coach would be like, I don't understand you can't breathe.

I'm like, Yeah.

He's like, Isn't that important?

I'm like, Probably. It's been like that for so long.

I'm sure it probably does, especially for people that, too, if you get sick and have allergies and stuff like that, too.

I have only really seen Carlos wear it. I'm not sure who else is doing it. Yeah, maybe it's something I should look into (smiling).

Q. Far more mundane and boring questions from me. Kind of following up on the question before about the conditions. How much does that factor into how you play in terms of, as you step out on court, looking at the conditions and thinking, okay, this means I'm going to do this differently maybe?

JESSICA PEGULA: I think it matters a lot. I think that's something that maybe fans don't notice as much or people that aren't playing maybe are not as aware of, or even on TV it's kind of hard to see the conditions on TV.

But I think it's something that's really important. If it's heavier, if it's playing faster, if it's sunny, if it's wet, it's cold, you know, maybe you adjust your tension a little bit, you adjust your game plan, maybe some serves aren't really working, like, today it felt like the kick was kind of bouncing really high, where maybe another colder, rainier day, it's not bouncing as high. Maybe you can't rely on that as much.

There's a lot of little things that going into how the conditions are playing. You don't want to change too much, it's just stuff that's important to be aware of. Just, you know, take note of in case, you know, something changes in the match or you need to change something.

But conditions are definitely a big part of the game, I think.

Q. If you could look ahead to your next match against Marketa, what sort of challenges she can present.

JESSICA PEGULA: Uh-huh, yeah, we haven't played in a while. I know she likes the clay. I know always tough playing a lefty on clay. She's kind of got a spinny forehand. Really creative on the court and dropshots a lot. Has a pretty good serve.

I mean, it's, one, nice to see her back playing. I know she struggled with a lot of injuries at the beginning of the year. And she's won some good matches, obviously is a finalist here. She obviously, you know, knows how to play good tennis here at Roland Garros. I think that's going to be the trickiest part for me.

But yeah, we haven't played each other in a little while and haven't played on clay. It will be interesting as the first time.

Q. A question about diet. Curious if you're a player that considers yourself to be strict with your diet, and if so, what do you do to maintain your nutrition week in, week out when you're going to all these cities where they eat so well?

JESSICA PEGULA: Yeah, that's really hard. I think it's a little bit different in tennis, because we don't have a lot of, like, wins as far as, like, we're traveling every single week. It's really hard to try and be super strict every single week.

I do think maybe we cheat a little bit more than other sports. It's 'cause it's like the only thing we have. It's like you have all these things going on, you're traveling, you're taken out of your element every single week. Sometimes the things that keep you sane is going to a good restaurant or finding a good restaurant.

I'm not overly strict. I'm a little less strict in Europe because I feel like the food is a little bit cleaner. When I'm home I try not to do a lot of dairy. I'm usually gluten-free. I'm not severely allergic, but I do feel better when I don't eat it.

In Europe it definitely doesn't affect me as much so maybe not as strict in that sense. I think you just have to keep a good balance. Like I said, we travel every single week.

It's not like there is a certain window where you could be strict. If you want to be strict you'd be strict 11 months out of the year, and that's just kind of insane.

I think it's better just to keep a little bit of a balance. Definitely try to be stricter during tournaments and like lead-up time, and then maybe after if you have a few days and want to kind of cheat or do something really bad, then I feel like that's the time.

Yeah, I try not to be too hard on myself.

Q. Is there any meal that you can't resist?

JESSICA PEGULA: I love French fries, which is not good in Paris. Not good (smiling).

Q. Having reviewed the last two years of your career, what are the key factors that you consider to elevate the level to be really on the top, top? What did you do before maybe not so good and now you have the key to be performing so well and consistent?

JESSICA PEGULA: Well, I think over the past year my serve's gotten a lot better. You know, I feel like I can hit a lot more different serves. Obviously that doesn't mean I serve well every single time, but I definitely have way more confidence in my serve and getting free points.

I think even today I served really well at the end of the second set and was able to get myself out of some big moments. That's something I think the top players do really well. That's something I have worked on a lot, and I think it's gotten better.

The other thing I would say is my movement. I think I've gotten a little bit better moving. Worked on my footwork, and just kind of in and out of the corners a little bit better. I always thought I moved pretty decent, but I think just kind of tightening that up has gotten a lot better.

I would say, you know, the serve and the movement are things I think I have improved on.

Q. I wondered what the biggest difference is here compared to the other clay court events conditions-wise?

JESSICA PEGULA: I mean, there is not much difference. They are kind of all the same. It's Europe during clay court season, which can be very nice, beautiful day, freezing cold, rainy, windy day. I think it's kind of similar in that sense.

I would say obviously Madrid has a lot of altitude. Maybe the conditions don't matter as much there, because the courts are almost kind of like an indoor feeling.

I think the courts here are also really good, so the weather doesn't affect the play as much, where maybe if you're playing another tournament where the clay isn't as well-kept, a lot of rain might really destroy them a little bit.

So maybe the courts, more bad bounces, kind of not going anywhere as much. I think here, you know, the courts hold up really well. They do an amazing job with them. That helps a lot.

Q. I have seen online that you had a short trip in the Paris Metro yesterday.

JESSICA PEGULA: Yes, I did.

Q. What was your experience on that? Anyone recognize you on the Metro?

JESSICA PEGULA: Nobody recognized me (laughter). Nobody recognized me at all. Nobody cared in that sense.

It was definitely very nice, very clean. A lot more relaxed than when I took the subway in New York. That's, like, an experience. A lot of entertainment.

Paris, it was really easy, super chill, very clean. I didn't have to go that far. Yeah, it was a good experience. We'll see. I want to see if I can maybe take some players or something and kinda do a couple of those in the future and just see what happens, get everybody taking the Metro.