A night after deeming the US Open’s revamped mixed doubles competition ‘a bit of an exhibition’ – and getting playfully chided by his teammate Jessica Pegula – Jack Draper walked back those remarks following a crushing loss to Iga Swiatek and Casper Ruud on Wednesday.
Draper and Pegula led 8-4 in the 10-point, third set tiebreak before collapsing, and the Englishman took note of their opponents’ serious approach to the match.
‘I think yesterday there were times where it felt a little bit more that way [like an exhibition] from our opponents, like a little bit more. Whereas tonight we were in the changing rooms, you’re seeing Iga and Casper and they’re like fully dialed in. They’re fully dialed in.’
He continued: ‘The people who come to watch the mixed event and fill up the crowd, they want to see really good tennis. Yeah, it ain’t an exhibition.’
Pegula apologized after she ‘scolded’ him in their post-match press conference on Tuesday as she hailed the intensity of Arthur Ashe Stadium crowd for the business end of the new-look format, which features shortened sets, no-ad scoring and was moved up to qualifying week to attract stars of the singles game.
‘Yeah. I mean, you can’t go out there at 7:00 on Ashe knowing obviously you could play the final, and feel like you’re just out there,’ she said.
Jessica Pegula and Jack Draper exited the competition in the semis on Wednesday night
The 2024 women’s singles finalist said the atmosphere for the semifinal was ‘arguably more crazy almost than a singles match’, and the crowd certainly got into it in the latter stages of a thrilling 3-5, 5-3, 10-8 (tiebreak) win for Swiatek and Ruud.
‘I think it’s just a bit of a spectacle. People love sport,’ Draper said.
‘People especially in New York, they love getting into it. They love just watching good points and watching people competing hard and trying to win. I think they respect that. It’s like a really nice environment to be in.’
After advancing to the semifinals on Tuesday night, Draper said ‘it would mean a lot’ to win the mixed title – but didn’t quite stop there.
‘Obviously it is like a bit of an exhibition format. It’s nice to play with someone, to get to know them…’
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Pegula quickly stepped in, adding: ‘He shouldn’t be saying that, but it’s okay.’
A confused Draper asked: ‘What? What did I say? Have a bit of fun with it. I don’t know. I like winning. It’s good to win, right?’
‘Yeah, but it’s not an exhibition,’ Pegula said. ‘I know what you’re saying.’
Wanting to correct himself, Draper added: ‘It’s a bit of an exhibition, a bit of fun, why am I so locked in? It’s a good opportunity to play, do well, get a lot of points in before next week.’
They certainly did that, and formed an obvious connection on and off the court – though Pegula rued some of the late mistakes she made in the semifinal.
‘I had so much fun. I mean, obviously it helps when you’re winning a few matches and you get to play a night on Ashe. I feel more sad honestly than after a singles match in a way,’ she revealed. I feel like I kind of let him down a little bit.
‘But besides that, I really wanted to play another match. I had so much fun. Like, we got along really well. I was hoping we could get to the finish line there.’