‘Taken 3 First Place Trophies’- Jessica Pegula Opens Up on Hilarious Margarita Revenge on Aryna Sabalenka Following Miami Open Defeat

“If I could share the trophy with someone, trophy, prize money, points, everything—I would definitely share it with you,” Aryna Sabalenka warmly told Jessica Pegula after their Miami Open final. But while the Belarusian took home the title with a 7-5, 6-2 win, it was Pegula who stole the spotlight, literally. In a hilarious post-match moment, she swiped Sabalenka’s celebratory Margarita, dubbed ‘Aryna’s Marg-Aryna,’ showing the American ace’s playful side. And days later, after her Charleston Open first-round win, Pegula finally addressed her Miami antics! So what did she have to say about her viral drink heist?

On Saturday, March 29, just moments after the Belarusian top seed secured her maiden Miami Open title, she joined Prakash Amritraj and Martina Navratilova in the courtside Tennis Channel studio for a celebratory interview. As they sipped on margaritas, the mood was light and festive until Jessica Pegula made a surprise entrance!

With a mischievous grin, the American 4th seed casually grabbed Sabalenka’s drink! She then took a sip, and swiftly walked away with the glass, leaving the newly crowned champion stunned. And days later, after her 1st-round win at the Charleston Open, Pegula finally addressed the now-viral incident.

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Speaking at the Tennis Channel after her match against another Belarusian, Iryna Shymanovich, Pegula added, “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,” That’s not all! 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,”

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Even after the incident in Miami, Sabalenka took to her IG to show her appreciation for Pegula’s playful antics, writing, “This is why I love @jpegula” In response, Pegula humorously fired back on her own Instagram story with, “My win of the day” Perhaps this was Pegula’s way of getting a little revenge: sweet, harmless, and hilarious!

And speaking for the American, fresh off her runner-up finish to top seed Aryna Sabalenka in the Miami Open final, Jessica Pegula wasted no time bouncing back. Pegula dominated her Charleston Open opener! She won the first 8 games in a commanding 6-0, 6-3 victory over qualifier Iryna Shymanovich. And, right after the match, Pegula shared her thoughts on her performance and the quick transition from Miami to Charleston. She also offered insight into her mindset as she continued her impressive run on the WTA tour.

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“I played pretty well” Jessica Pegula opens up after her first-round win at the Charleston Open

The second seed Jessica Pegula showed no signs of fatigue on Wednesday, seamlessly transitioning from her Miami Open final run to a dominant clay-season opener at the Credit One Charleston Open. The 31-year-old WTA ace delivered a clinical performance, dismissing qualifier Iryna Shymanovich 6-0, 6-3 in just one hour and 10 minutes. With a 72 percent win rate on first serves, a flawless 6/6 break point conversion, and 32 service points won, Pegula was in complete control. And, after the match, she shared her thoughts on the victory, reflecting on her strong start to the clay season and her ambitions.

“Always tricky when it’s the first match, but thought I played pretty well. It was kind of a weird match. She wasn’t playing that great at the beginning. But then she started playing pretty good tennis, and it got a little tricky there in the second. But I’m happy that I was able to get through that second set. I’m happy I was able to figure it out,” Pegula added.

USA Today via Reuters Aug 9, 2024; Toronto, Ontario, USA; Jessica Pegula (USA) waves to fans after defeating Ashlyn Krueger (USA, not shown) in third round play at Sobeys Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Dan Hamilton-USA TODAY Sports

Up next, Jessica Pegula will take on Aussie 87th seed Ajla Tomljanović, with their H2H record locked at 2-2. Their most recent clash at the ATX Open saw Pegula overpower Tomljanović in a tough three-set battle in the SF. With momentum on her side and a dominant performance in her Charleston opener, can Pegula replicate that result and take the lead in their rivalry? Share your thoughts below!

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