Pegula : "On ne peut pas juger la carrière d'une joueuse de tennis uniquement sur le fait qu'elle ait remporté ou non un tournoi du Grand Chelem"

Diego Jiménez Rubio | 11 May 2026 | 08.59

Jessica Pegula, importance des Grands Chelems. Photo : gettyimages

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Jessica Pegula signed one of the most emphatic victories of the season at the WTA 1000 Rome 2026 by crushing Rebeka Masarova 6-0 and 6-0 to advance to the round of 16. The American acknowledged in a press conference that she couldn't even remember the last time she had strung together three consecutive sets without dropping a single game and explained how she managed to maintain focus despite the exceptional scoreline.

Beyond the resounding triumph, Jessica Pegula shared interesting reflections on the pressure that exists in tennis around the Grand Slams, the importance of consistency, her evolution as a player, and the constant need to keep improving even when established among the elite of the circuit.

Here's what Pegula said in Rome about the life of a tennis player

An uncommon victory even for her

"Have I ever won three sets in a row by 6-0? I thought you would know the answer. I have no idea. I don't even remember the last time I served a double bagel to someone."

"I think I started playing really well, and breaking her serve so quickly was important because she has a pretty powerful serve. That surely took a lot of momentum away from her at the beginning. Besides, I managed to save two games where I was down 40-0, and I think that changed the momentum of the match significantly because I prevented her from getting into the set."

"I felt like I played every point very smartly. I executed my strategy very quickly, neutralized her serve right away, and then just played solid from the baseline."

The mental challenge of closing out a double bagel

"When you win the first set 6-0, you immediately think about not relaxing because things can change very quickly. Sometimes the other player frees up, goes to the bathroom, thinks it can't get any worse, and starts playing better. That's why these situations don't happen so often."

"I was constantly thinking about winning one more game, then another one, and not giving her any chance. On clay, you can never leave anything to chance because suddenly there are a couple of bad bounces, a double fault, the opponent gets into a rhythm, and the break comes back quickly. Here in Rome, I've seen a lot of matches like that."

"At one point, she smiled at me at the net and said, 'That was cruel.' It made me laugh when I processed it. But if you ask any player on the circuit, all of them would accept a victory like that."

Tennis' obsession with the Grand Slams

"I think many people judge careers solely by the Grand Slams. For someone who doesn't follow tennis much, winning one already means you've had an incredible career. But more regular fans often think the opposite and say, 'They only won one Grand Slam and nothing else'."

"There's also the other side, players who maybe never won a Grand Slam but had impressive careers, won many tournaments, and were super consistent. I think there are a lot of gray areas."

"Of course, I want to win a Grand Slam, but I also think I wouldn't want it to be something isolated. I don't want to feel like I just had two incredible weeks and then disappeared. I would like it to be part of a solid and consistent career."

"There are players who won a Grand Slam and then had a lot of trouble managing all that pressure. Especially when you achieve it at a very young age, that must be really tough."

The constant motivation to keep improving

"My daily motivation is always to try to be a better player. My coach and I always joke that all this is still practice. He is over fifty years old and still goes out on the court trying to improve."

"After playing the US Open final, two weeks later I was in China fighting to win matches and thinking again about how to improve. You're not constantly thinking that you just played a Grand Slam final. You're thinking about surviving the next match."

"The circuit doesn't allow you to stay too long celebrating anything. It's important to appreciate the good results, but you also have to turn the page quickly because the following week everything starts all over again."

The details that set apart the best players

"I have worked a lot on my serve because I believe it is currently one of the keys in women's tennis. You see young players with a great serve, and that gives them a huge advantage. We are in an era with many big servers. Maybe not at Serena's level, but you have players like Rybakina or Sabalenka dominating with that weapon and winning many tournaments."

"When you're a top player and win many matches, the danger is to get comfortable. That's why you always try to improve small details. They are very subtle things that maybe a regular fan doesn't notice, but you perceive them when you train or play against the best. I always want to maintain that mentality of not settling and keep looking for small improvements that can help me in crucial moments."

The balance outside of tennis

"My best reward is going back home and doing absolutely nothing. Literally lying on the couch for three consecutive days. I also love spending time with my family and friends because they support me throughout the year while I'm traveling and competing. When I get back home, they feel my results almost as if they were theirs, and that makes everything special."

"I'm really sorry I can't watch the Buffalo Sabres games live because I love hockey, and the playoffs are amazing. I would give anything to be watching one of those games right now."

With a devastating victory and an increasing confidence on clay, Jessica Pegula continues to establish herself as one of the most consistent and dangerous players on the women's circuit. The American not only aims to fight for major titles but also to build a career marked by consistency, constant evolution, and the ability to always remain among the best in the world.

Cette actualité est une traduction automatique. Vous pouvez lire la nouvelle originale Pegula: "No se puede juzgar la carrera de una tenista solo por si ha ganado o no un Grand Slam"