MUBADALA DC OPEN

August 3, 2026

Jessica Pegula

Press Conference

A. EALA/J. Pegula

4-6, 6-4, 6-0

THE MODERATOR: Questions.

Q. Tough one today. Did it feel almost like two different matches? You could split it into two different halves? Did you notice any contrast between yesterday on court and then today?

JESSICA PEGULA: Yeah, I mean, today was a little bit hotter. Definitely felt like two different matches. I think it kind of was. Yeah, it felt a little bit hotter, but yeah, I mean, on my side, I just felt like I couldn't find my rhythm. I think I was playing much better yesterday, for whatever reason, than I was today, and I think she was playing better today than she was yesterday.

I felt like it just kind of flip-flopped a little bit, which is, you know, part of it. I mean, nobody could have foreseen, like, the weather and all these other factors.

But it definitely felt much different, yeah.

Q. I heard when you were warming up asking who you were training with to serve even slower. Just trying to make out what was going on there. Did you ever feel comfortable? Was it tougher today than it was yesterday?

JESSICA PEGULA: Yeah, for whatever reason, yesterday felt like I was returning much better than I was today. I do feel like today she was going more for percentage than trying to go bigger and hit her spots, so I was seeing maybe less second serves.

In the warm-up, yeah, I mean, I think everyone that plays her would probably be working on a slower serve, because her serve is definitely slower, and you always practice how the person kind of plays. So if they have a big serve, I'm practicing with people that are hitting their serve bigger, and if it's more of a kick, if it's more of a slice.

Yeah, I was trying to do more of that today, which didn't really seem to help me much (smiling), but that's kind of pretty normal, though.

Q. On the atmosphere, you said it was a really big crowd for a Monday final on short notice. What was that like? Bigger percentage of Filipino fans?

JESSICA PEGULA: Yeah, I mean, the crowd today was really loud. Honestly, sometimes I'm just so in my own world, I don't quite notice how crazy it is, because I feel like my perception might be different than people sitting in the crowd.

It was really nice to see a really big turnout today. I think for a Monday final, that was really nice to have. Even though it didn't go my way, I think it was really still a great atmosphere.

Like I said in my speech, I'd rather play in an atmosphere like that than nobody, so I don't mind it, really.

Q. After the match starts late yesterday and then you play and then it gets paused again, how would you describe what the last 24 have been like?

JESSICA PEGULA: Yeah, it's been pretty exhausting, at least for me. It's been a long week for me, coming in here, not having a lot of practice and hours under my belt, and then just playing every single day, and then the long days that we have had starting from yesterday.

Yeah, it's been a long week. I think I'm a little fried. Now that it's all over, I can kind of try and relax a little bit. We obviously have to play Wednesday in Toronto, but it was a long day yesterday, and it was just unfortunate. I think the tournament did everything they could to try to finish yesterday, but as we all know, the weather was not cooperating.

You know, I think they did an amazing job to turn this around. I know it was a little tough for them to come to that decision and try to put on two good finals today.

Q. You kind of alluded to it there, playing in Toronto. It's almost going to feel like maybe you don't have a break, aside from tomorrow. What are the keys to turn around? Seems like you're still in the same tournament, just different locations?

JESSICA PEGULA: Yeah, I think I'm pretty used to that. It is a different place, different surroundings, different hotel, different court, so I think you do feel a little bit of a reset.

It is going to have to be a tough turnaround for me, going straight into playing Wednesday. Yeah, I mean, I'll just have to try to do my best to reset today, maybe try and relax a little bit and take it easy tomorrow and just get a feel for the conditions and stuff, and just do the best I can to go out there and compete on Wednesday.

Yeah, it will be a tough turnaround, but like I said, it's not exactly the first time. You know, sometimes it can be nice. You don't have too much time to think about things. You can go straight into match form.

Q. More of your thoughts on Alex. This is her biggest title. What are your thoughts on her potential and how much further she can keep climbing with the game she has?

JESSICA PEGULA: Yeah, I mean, listen, she's a great ball striker, great player, great competitor. I think we have seen that over the last few years. She's had good results.

I think this year it seems like she's finding more consistency with her results. She's beaten quite a few top players this year, including myself.

She's tricky to play against. She's a lefty, she hits the ball well, she kind of baits you with her lefty serve. I have seen her in the gym a lot. I think she's trying to work on getting stronger and moving a little bit better, and I think that's stuff that's probably just going to come with time.

I just think it's so refreshing and nice to see how well she's handled all of the kind of fandom and stardom that's come with her being from the Philippines and how they've really embraced her. It's crazy how she deals with it every single week, which just shows her maturity as a player and as a person.

I have a lot of respect for her, and I like her a lot. I think she's a really nice girl. Yeah, it's cool to see what she's brought to the women's game, and yeah, she's great.