Jessica Pegula was in positive spirits despite her US Open mixed doubles semifinal loss as the 31-year-old teased her partner Jack Draper over following him on Instagram but receiving a follow back.
Pegula and Draper, who debuted as a pair on Monday when they defeated Emma Raducanu & Carlos Alcaraz and Mirra Andreeva & Daniil Medvedev, returned to the court on Tuesday and made a promising start after winning a tight opener against Iga Swiatek and Casper Ruud. Unfortunately for the American/British duo, they failed to keep up with the same level for the rest of the match as Swiatek and Ruud came back to win 3-5 5-3 10-8.
Later in their press, Pegula funnily revealed that she followed Draper on Instagram but that she didn't expect to receive a follow back since the 23-year-old follows only a couple of accounts – note, the Briton follows a total of seven accounts and that's mainly his sponsors.
“I followed you on Instagram. I realized you follow like five people or something. So, I don't think I'm getting that follow. But it's fine," the American told the Briton. The fifth-ranked ATP player responded by saying that he wasn't really into Instagram: “I don't really go on it too much."
Pegula, Draper also had a funny moment a day earlier
After reaching the US Open semifinal, the British tennis star used the word "exhibition" when addressing the mixed doubles event. And his partner didn't like that one at all.
"Yeah, it would mean a lot. Obviously it is like a bit of an exhibition format. It’s nice to play with someone," the Briton said when asked if it would be nice to lift the trophy, to what the American responded: "You shouldn’t be saying that, but that’s okay."
Meanwhile, Pegula and Draper will now switch their focus to the US Open singles event, where they will try to make deep runs.
