Jessica Pegula goes viral for sipping beer after U.S. Open loss
American Jessica Pegula fell in straight sets to top-seeded Iga Swiatek 3-6, 6-7 (4-7) in Wednesday's quarterfinal match of the U.S. Open held in New York City.
As noted by her WTA Tour bio, Pegula has now failed to advance past that round of tournaments in three of four Grand Slams and is 0-4 across Grand Slam quarterfinals, but the 28-year-old nevertheless was able to make reporters and fans chuckle after her latest defeat.
Per David Russell of the New York Post, Pegula went viral Wednesday night and into Thursday morning for enjoying a cold beer during the press conference.
"Hi, Jessica, sorry about the loss. I like the Heineken," ESPN's D'Arcy Maine said to the beaten Pegula at one point of the session.
"Thanks," Pegula responded. "I’m trying to pee for doping — although it does help ease the loss."
While Pegula is hardly the first individual at the U.S. Open to become somewhat of an Internet sensation for drinking a frosty beverage, she admitted that another quarterfinal defeat is difficult to swallow.
"I go back and forth," she told reporters. "I’m like, 'Oh, I should be positive.' But at the same time, I’m like, 'F---, three quarterfinals.' Sorry, but it just sucks. It sucks. I wish I could’ve done it here at my home Slam but I guess not."
As mentioned by ESPN and the Associated Press, Pegula's parents own the Buffalo Bills of the NFL and the NHL's Buffalo Sabres. The Bills open the 2022 season at the defending Super Bowl champion Los Angeles Rams on Thursday night and know plenty about coming up short on the biggest of stages.
More must-reads: