“My win of the day,” Jessica Pegula humorously wrote to Aryna Sabalenka on Instagram days ago, following the Miami Open. The context? Sabalenka took home the Miami Open title, but Pegula stole the show by swiping her Margarita during a post-match interview with Tennis Channel! This lighthearted moment was met with laughter from fans and the players, who share a close friendship and healthy rivalry after competing against each other nine times—with Sabalenka winning the last three encounters in Cincinnati, the US Open, and most recently in Miami. But Jessica finally got her own sweet taste of victory. Literally!
On Sunday, the American star defeated 2020 Australian Open champion Sofia Kenin at the Charleston Open in her fourth finals appearance of the season. This marked the first all-American final in Charleston in 35 years. Pegula battled back from four games down to clinch a 6-3, 7-5 victory. This not only marked another win for her but also added to their H2H, which now stands at 4-2 with Jessica in the lead!
But there was more to celebrate! In her post-match interview with Tennis Channel, Pegula was presented with her own winner’s cocktail! It seemed like a fitting celebration as she clinked glasses with the interviewers, saying “cheers to our champion” while sipping the purple cocktail. However, one can’t help but think this was a nod to the personalized drink made for Sabalenka during Miami, humorously called ‘Marg-Aryna. ’ Pegula had playfully swiped Sabalenka’s drink after losing the final, noting she needed to “take something” from the Belarusian.
Now, she was getting her moment and drink! Previously, she addressed her viral moment with Aryna Sabalenka after her first-round win at Charleston.
She said, “I had to take something from her. She’s taken three first-place trophies from me like come on. I can take her Margarita. Enough of her girl chunky, her Margarita, winning every match like common. This is ridiculous. But I know she’s also very outgoing and goofy, so I thought like it fit the moment.” When asked about the taste of Sabalenka’s drink, Pegula cheekily added, “Wasn’t bad, had a nice tahini salt rim, that was nice, I enjoyed that.” Now that she’s got her own winner’s drink, does it taste sweeter? Only Jessica can answer that!
The Miami Open runner-up has now won 17 of her last 19 matches, boosting her ranking to third place and overtaking compatriot Coco Gauff. The last time she was in the No.3 position was on October 24, 2022. Now, three years later, she’s bagging titles, making finals, and sipping margaritas! It wasn’t an easy journey for the 31-year-old.
Pegula on the hardships of winning the Charleston Open
Jessica Pegula’s journey to the Charleston final was nothing short of remarkable, marking her fourth title match of 2025. Despite feeling drained from 10 matches in just over two weeks, Pegula’s resilience shone through. “Of course I’m tired,” she confessed after her semifinal win. “The tank is running a bit low emotionally and physically.”
Pegula’s path to the final included a tough battle against Ekaterina Alexandrova, where she came back from being down 2-4 in the third set to win 7-5. She also ousted defending champion Danielle Collins in the quarterfinals, a match that left her feeling particularly exhausted. Additionally, Sofia Kenin had been on a roll, eliminating top seeds like Belinda Bencic and Daria Kasatkina, but Pegula’s determination paid off as she won 6-3, 7-5. She was ready to give it her all, as she added, “I’m happy to be in the final. I’ll rest as much as I can and give my best.”
The victory not only earned Pegula her first clay court title but also boosted her ranking to third in the world, making her the top-ranked American player. Her season has been a rollercoaster, but she’s proving to be a fighter, winning 78% of her deciding sets.
As she heads into the clay season, Pegula’s ability to dig deeper will be crucial. Will she overcome her struggles and enhance her collection of titles and finals? We’d love to know what you think!
The post From Aryna Sabalenka’s Glass to Her Own, Jessica Pegula Finally Savors Her Sip of Victory in Charleston appeared first on EssentiallySports.
