DUBAI DUTY FREE TENNIS CHAMPIONSHIPS

February 18, 2026

Jessica Pegula

Dubai Duty Free Tennis Stadium

Mixed Zone

Q. Talk us a little bit through that match today.

JESSICA PEGULA: Tough match today. I felt like the first set was really, really close. Honestly was one or two points from I think going either way. But maybe a little lucky at the end, too.

Tough playing against a young girl that's been very hot this year, playing with a lot of confidence. I knew it was going to be tricky.

So just happy that I was kind of able to get through that first set, then I think I was able to kind of free up a little bit in the second.

Q. (Question about the player council, Valerie Camillo and Tour Architecture Council.)

JESSICA PEGULA: Yeah, I've already served on players council for quite a while now. I think honestly I'm not sure my role as far as what I'm doing now is going to change that much.

But I think from my understanding, her point was to kind of just show the players and the tour that she's taking this scheduling as a priority and that she really wants it to change. I think she really wants to try and force change quickly.

I know at the WTA, we haven't always moved the fastest in the past. I think that's something she also kind of wants to show players, that she is really willing to kind of problem solve this issue.

I think she's been listening to a lot of the players in the short amount of time that she's been with us. I think that's really exciting that she seems pretty adamant about changing.

Yeah, she just kind of asked me if I would help. I think having a top player is always a good thing to have kind of a voice for the players, then also along with the tournaments to help drive and make decisions and changes.

Yeah, I'm happy to help where I can. I think this is something that has been a priority for a while. So just hopefully we can get something done.

Q. Yesterday when we were speaking you were explaining how Iva was a miniature version of you. Did you kind of see that resemblance playing her for the first time?

JESSICA PEGULA: Yeah, in the way that she plays, I definitely see some similarities. She tries to take the ball early. She tries to return really hard and through the middle. I think she likes to change the direction of the ball very well, especially off of her backhand.

Her serve honestly is pretty good. I think it's gotten a lot better, even from last year when I hit with her a few times, and when I played her in doubles as well.

She's definitely a little more intense than I am. She seems, like, so focused and routine-ed in what she does. I'm probably maybe a little bit different in that.

I can definitely see where changing the direction of the ball and taking it early - I mean, she's not the only one that does it - but since she said she modeled it after me, I can definitely see that resemblance.

Q. The second set, maybe because she's young, you feel more confident?

JESSICA PEGULA: Yeah, she's a great competitor. I knew it didn't really matter the score, that she was going to keep fighting no matter what.

I thought I started serving really, really well. I started winning a lot of points off my first serve. I felt her level dropped a little bit and I was kind of able to overpower a little bit. Returned a little bit better, served a little bit better.

I think I was just starting to win more free points really quickly, whereas in the first set I felt like it was very, very close. We were having a lot of long games, close games, longer points and stuff like that.

I think, yeah, I was able to just be a little bit more aggressive in the second. Then I feel like I kind of took control of that set, especially in the middle of the set there when I went up 4-1.