From Indifference to Complicity: Pegula and Draper Surprise in US Open Mixed Doubles
The duo of Jessica Pegula and Jack Draper, two tennis players who barely exchanged greetings, starred in an unexpected and successful participation in the mixed doubles tournament of the US Open. Their story, which began with few words and an apparent lack of mutual interest, culminated in a surprising connection on and off the court.
Before the tournament, communication between Pegula and Draper was limited to a couple of words. The American tennis player confessed that “at most, four”, while Draper, jokingly, admitted that they didn’t usually socialize with other players.
However, fate united them in the renewed mixed doubles tournament, where the world’s number 4 and number 5 were forced to team up. Both players, who originally had other assigned partners, unexpectedly found themselves paired due to injuries and last-minute changes.
The surprise was mutual. Draper, unaware of Pegula’s seven doubles titles, underestimated her experience. But reality exceeded expectations.
In their debut, they defeated Emma Raducanu and Carlos Alcaraz. Then, in the second round, they overcame Mirra Andreeva and Daniil Medvedev. Both tennis players acknowledged the chemistry that developed between them.
“I felt that, once we got started, it seemed like it was going to be a better partnership than maybe I thought,” Pegula commented.
Jessica Pegula
Although they fell in the semifinals against Iga Swiatek and Casper Ruud, their participation left an indelible mark. Despite not reaching the final, Pegula and Draper had a memorable experience.
Here’s a look at what happened behind the scenes, where the connection between the two tennis players began to take shape:10:27 a.m.: Draper begins his training on court 3, alongside Holger Rune, who is also participating in mixed doubles with Amanda Anisimova. The atmosphere is energetic, while Sloane Stephens, 2017 US Open champion, is giving a television interview in the nearby studio.10:59 a.m.: Novak Djokovic, with an enthusiastic ovation from the public, interrupts training to go to court 1. He greets several players, including Rune and Draper.11:25 a.m.: Pegula stretches before joining Draper for their first training session together. They share a few words before starting to practice, under the watchful eyes of their teams and fans. On the adjacent court, Ben Shelton and Taylor Townsend, along with their father and coach Bryan, are having a lively training session.11:52 a.m.: Draper retires for lunch and rest in the locker room, while Pegula remains on the court.12:33 p.m.: Pegula heads to the massage table in the players’ garden. The atmosphere is lively, with other players warming up and loud music.1:50 p.m.: Pegula is preparing in the gym for the match, while Draper receives treatment on his ankle and fingers. Andreeva joins him to compare and joke about their injuries.2:34 p.m.: Pegula reviews the strategy with her team. Rune looks for Anisimova before her match. Pegula crosses paths with Andrey Rublev as she heads to the court.2:45 p.m.: Pegula waits at the entrance to Arthur Ashe Stadium. Draper’s whereabouts are unknown. Raducanu and Alcaraz joke around. Pegula congratulates Alcaraz on his victory in Cincinnati.2:51 p.m.: Draper finally arrives and the four players enter the court. Pegula and Draper win the toss and decide to receive.2:57 p.m.: The match begins before a crowd mostly in favor of Raducanu and Alcaraz. Pegula and Draper win the first point and the first game in three minutes. They exchange gestures and secret signs.3:50 p.m.: Pegula and Draper dominate the match and win in 50 minutes with a score of 4-2, 4-2. Pegula thanks the audience, while Draper praises his partner.4:54 p.m.: Draper prepares in the gym near Ashe. Pegula arrives minutes later. Djokovic tries to enter, but gives up due to the crowd.5:02 p.m.: Pegula waits at the entrance to Ashe and chats with Medvedev. Andreeva reacts with laughter at something Medvedev says.5:04 p.m.: The teams return to the court. Pegula and Draper win the match in 36 minutes with a score of 4-1, 4-1.6:11 p.m.: Pegula returns to the gym to stretch and cool down. Townsend and Shelton congratulate her.6:20 p.m.: Draper trains in the gym. Alexander Zverev jokes with him about the presence of cameras.6:40 p.m.: Pegula and Draper meet before the press conference and decide to play the first match on Wednesday.6:45 p.m.: Pegula and Draper answer questions from the media. Both joke with each other. Pegula is surprised by Draper’s decision to call the mixed doubles event an “exhibition”.
A week before a Grand Slam, what started as something fun with a random partner has become much more.
“It’s always fun to be in the Ashe and play in front of a packed crowd,” Pegula said. “It’s been incredible. He’s recovering from an injury. Keeping that in perspective, playing at a high level is really great. I don’t think you can take that for granted. I’ve loved that aspect.”
Jessica Pegula
6:57 p.m.: Pegula and Draper leave the press conference and meet with their teams to prepare for the next day.
