"Coco didn’t know who it was, and we had this whole conversation": Jessica Pegula remarks Gauff didn't know who Bon Jovi was

Four of American tennis’ biggest names—Jessica Pegula, Madison Keys, Jennifer Brady and Desirae Krawczyk—sat down together at the Miami Open to reflect on their experiences of the tournament, life in Florida, and a few off-court stories along the way.

With three of the four from the podcast based in Florida, the conversation quickly turned to what makes Miami such a special stop on the tour. “I get to stay home, so that’s always my favourite part,” Pegula explained. “I like the conditions—it plays a little bit faster, and I’m used to training down here. It kind of feels like I’m just in my backyard. There’s a lot of humidity, which I know some of the players hate, but I love it. I love getting a nice sweat and kind of dying out there. There’s something about it for Floridians—we embrace it.”

Brady echoed the sentiment, highlighting the simple comforts of being close to home. "I stay at home and make the commute—it’s about 45 minutes, which is really easy,” she said. “You get to sleep in your own bed, which is really nice. I used to come when it was in Key Biscayne and stay in a hotel, so it’s nice now that it’s at Hard Rock Stadium.”

For Keys, the tournament carries deep personal meaning, having grown up attending the event. “I’ve always loved the Miami Open,” she said. “It was the tournament I grew up driving to—I lived in Boca—so I vividly remember being 10 or 11 and driving down. It was one of the first tournaments I ever played as a professional, so I’ve just always had really fond memories of it.”

Krawczyk, meanwhile, admitted Miami offers a different kind of comfort compared to her other “home” event.

“It’s tough coming from Indian Wells because that’s my home tournament,” she said. “But I do enjoy coming here. The humidity is very different to the dry heat there, and I feel like I get to spend more time with friends, which makes it feel more like home.”

Pegula arrives in Miami with particularly strong memories, having enjoyed deep runs in recent years. “I made the singles final last year—that’s obviously a good memory,” she said. “And when Coco and I won the doubles, that was really fun.”

Others are hoping to create new highlights in 2025. “I haven’t really done well in Miami,” Krawczyk admitted. “So let’s just hope my memories are better this year. But it’s always fun—it’s so nice to be out in Miami and spend time with friends.”

Keys reflected on a formative early experience at the event. “I got a wildcard when I was 14 or 15 and got to play the tournament I’d been watching,” she said. “Being around all the players I used to look up to—I was running around pointing people out like, ‘Oh my God, I can’t believe I’m looking at them.’ That was probably the coolest experience for me.”

The Miami Open is no stranger to famous faces, and the group shared a few memorable encounters.

“I think Jon Bon Jovi was here,” Pegula recalled. “Coco didn’t know who it was, and we had this whole conversation about Bon Jovi.”

Pegula also revealed an unexpected crossover between tennis and the NBA. "Jimmy Butler is always around—he’s a huge tennis fan,” she said. “We actually did a coffee lesson with him one day. We were all kind of learning latte art at the time, so none of us were fantastic—but hopefully he’s improved.”

Away from the court, Keys admitted her golfing skills leave plenty to be desired. “I can only hit the ball with a driver,” she laughed. “I can hit it really far, we just don’t know where it’s going. I also have a theory that I can’t hit from ground level. I have to be elevated, like at Topgolf. Otherwise, it just hooks everywhere or goes straight down in front of me.”

The conversation soon turned to Miami’s famous nightlife, with Brady sharing a particularly memorable experience. “I ended up at Club Space at like 6 a.m., which is when it’s apparently busiest,” she said. “The only type of music I don’t like is house music, and that’s all they play. I paid like $60 to get in and didn’t stay very long, I even tried to get my money back.”

Pegula had her own surreal Miami moment, attending a high-profile event with Kendall Jenner. “I got invited to her tequila launch,” she explained. “It ended up being this really intimate dinner, and I was sitting diagonally from her thinking, ‘Why am I here?’ Then we went to LIV for about 10 minutes before leaving—we just drove home.”

Miami’s party scene extends beyond nightclubs, with the Ultra Music Festival also getting a mention. “I went for half a day once,” Pegula said. “It’s a lot—you kind of have to be on drugs to fully enjoy it, which I was not. But the people-watching was unbelievable.”

Krawczyk added: “I could see the stage from my hotel room one year and tried to listen to The Chainsmokers from there.”

When it comes to relaxation, however, the group were largely in agreement. “I like sitting by the pool under an umbrella, looking at the beach,” Krawczyk said. “That’s my vibe.”

And when faced with a tough hypothetical, staying out until 4 a.m. or working out in peak Miami heat, the answer was unanimous. “Workout,” they all agreed, even in “100-degree heat and 100% humidity.”

Food is another standout feature of the Miami Open experience. “The food is really good,” Keys said. “And the rosé, or frosé, is also very good.”

Pegula agreed, adding: “For a sporting event, it’s actually solid—really good food.”

And while they may differ on nightlife, beaches or even hot dogs, one theme remained constant throughout the conversation: Miami feels like home. Whether it’s sleeping in their own beds, embracing the humidity, or simply spending time with friends, the tournament offers something unique on the calendar. As Pegula summed up: “It just feels like I’m in my backyard.”