"At one point I was like, 'I might not win a game'" - Jessica Pegula and Madison Keys debriefs mixed opening start to the WTA season Down Under

The WTA Tour was back up and running after the off season had been completed. Jessica Pegula and Madison Keys had competed in Brisbane International, with Desirae Krawczyk playing the event for the first time with her usually representing the USA in the United Cup. They reacted to the start of the season, along with Jennifer Brady, on the Players Box Podcast as they debriefed the highs and lows of competition returning.

"Not long enough. What, like three weeks? That whole four weeks just felt so quick," she joked. "But yeah, it was nice to be back. Obviously, it’s like coming back to a new year of school. There are people you missed, and there are people you’re like, 'Oh God, you again.' But other than that, it was nice. It’s great to be back competing and just being back on tour. It was actually my first time playing the Brisbane International, because I’ve been at the United Cup every year. But yeah, it was a good time."

It was a brutal return to the court for Keys, who in her second round match managed to squeeze past Diana Shnaider in a match spanning three hours and involving three tiebreakers.

"It definitely went from zero to 100. I’m just happy to be back playing," she admitted. "No matter what you do in practice, you can never simulate a match. The soreness is completely different — the soreness, the stress, all of it. No matter what you do in practice, it doesn’t come close.

The rustiness was clear to see for Keys, who would go on to lose in straight sets to world number one Aryna Sabalenka. "I always feel like that first match back, even if it’s only been a few weeks, the next morning you’re like, 'Why does my butt hurt so much?' Or your hip. Or everything."

Pegula went the deepest out of the three, losing in the semi-finals to an inspired Marta Kostyuk, but it was a promising start for the world number six. "I played four matches in four days. Like Maddie said, it was kind of a shock to the system. It’s also pretty hot here. You’re putting yourself straight into summer in Australia," he commented.

"I had three really tough matches. Yesterday I kind of got crushed, so that was at least quick. But yeah, it’s tough. I didn’t have the best preseason because I had a couple of injuries, so I didn’t get a lot of consistent loading days. This week definitely broke my body in really fast. But honestly, I didn’t feel as sore as I thought I would, so that was a win for me."

Some of her matches would be closely fought three setters, something that she was happy to be a part of. "I was glad I had tough matches. It’s one thing if you win a couple of easy matches and don’t really get challenged," she explained. "But at the start of the year, you want to test your nerve, your fitness, and yourself under pressure. You just can’t replicate that in practice — it’s not even close."

It is very key to have a positive pre-season with players looking to get a fast start to the season with some positive results. "There are a few women where you can tell they put in a lot of work physically," Keys analysed. "I think it’s also the first time people have had time to focus on training outside of just tennis.

The topic once again turned to Kostyuk, and how brilliant she was against Pegula. "Marta always looks super fit, but watching her yesterday, I was like, 'Wow.'" It was an incredible performance with Krawczyk sharing some insight. "She lost maybe three points out of the 18 games we were watching."

Pegula took this well: "Thanks for the reminder," which was followed by laughter. "She was just redlining everything. At one point I was like, 'I might not win a game if I don’t change something here.' She always looks fit, and the outfit didn’t hurt either."

While none of them participated in USA's failed attempt to reclaim the United Cup, Pegula and Krawczyk were up late following their tie against Poland in the semi-final.

"It should have gone to a third set tiebreak, they had so many chances," Pegula saif with frustration in her voice. "That's mixed though, especially with the no advantage."

Overall, it had been another very entertaining United Cup with a lot of action-packed drama. "There have been a lot of great matches," Krawczyk stated. "When it comes down to the mixed doubles, it’s been really entertaining."

Pegula was a huge fan of the mixed doubles. "I’ve thoroughly enjoyed watching the mixed doubles — I was telling you guys. I think it’s the perfect blend of doubles with men and women," Pegula said.

"Men’s doubles can be really quick because of the big serves and quick volleys at the net. And sometimes women’s doubles isn’t the highest quality — there can be too many rallies and lobs and not enough finishing. So when you put the men and women together in mixed doubles, it’s really entertaining. I’ve watched a couple of the mixed matches and thought, “I’m really enjoying this.” It’s been fun."