In the match that ended with a score of 6:3, 6:4, Pegula, ranked sixth in the seedings, achieved her fourth career victory on the courts of Melbourne Park, thereby ending Keys' title defense. She started the match at Rod Laver Arena with a powerful start, quickly leading 3:0 in the first set, which she finished in just 31 minutes.
In the second set, the battle was more intense: the ninth-seeded Keys displayed aggressive play, but Pegula managed to break early on and confidently maintained her advantage until the final swing.
Both tennis players entered the fourth-round match without losing a single set in the tournament. The intrigue was heightened by the fact that Pegula and Keys are close friends and co-host a podcast called The Player's Box.
In the next round, Jessica Pegula will face the winner of the match between fourth-seeded Amanda Anisimova and China's Wang Xinyu, continuing her quest for her first title at a Grand Slam tournament.
