“I don’t think I’ve ever had that”: Jessica Pegula reacts to rare double bagel in Rome Open

Jessica Pegula produced one of the most decisive wins of her career at the 2026 Rome Open, completing a rare double bagel against the Swiss Rebeka Masarova. The world No. 5, a consistent top-10 presence in recent seasons, did not concede a game in a straight-sets victory that stood out more for its control than its scoreline.

Speaking after the match, Pegula emphasised both execution and mindset, noting that even difficult service games did not disrupt her focus. She described the performance as unusually complete, particularly given the clay surface and the variability it typically introduces.

“I don’t think I’ve ever had a double bagel on WTA tour levels. Ever? Really? I don’t think so. I think maybe 0 and 1, maybe a few times, but not 0-0,” the former US Open finalist said to Tennis Channel. “I’m super happy with the way I played every single point, won every single game. Even when I was down, I think a couple of games like love-40 and stuff like that, I just tried my best to always stay in the game, no matter what the scoreline was.”

The American advances to the round of 16 in Rome and has now won 19 games in a row when counting her opening-round victory against Zeynep Sönmez, where she strung together seven consecutive games to close a 6-4, 6-0 win. Her next opponent will be Anastasia Potapova, one of the most consistent players in the current clay swing.

Pegula’s assessment of her performance centred on consistency rather than dominance alone. She highlighted her ability to remain engaged even in the rare moments she trailed in games, particularly from challenging scores such as love-40. The result against Masarova represented a clear execution of game-plan discipline on a surface that typically reduces predictability.

The American also pointed to the significance of sustaining focus across every point, a factor she views as essential when aiming to maintain elite-level results.

“I think I just played every single point, won every single game,” she said. “Even when I was down, I think a couple of games like love-40 and stuff like that, I just tried my best to always stay in the game, no matter what the scoreline was.”

The additional doubles involvement, she explained, is not incidental. It is part of a broader competitive rhythm she uses during key tournament weeks, particularly on clay, where extended court time can sharpen decision-making and shot selection under pressure.

Pegula noted that she “enjoys playing doubles when possible,” framing it as a practical extension of her singles development rather than a separate focus. The Rome schedule, in her view, allows for this type of layered workload without compromising recovery or match readiness.

A significant part of Pegula’s post-match analysis focused on her serve, which she continues to refine in pursuit of more free points. She has previously identified the shot as a key differentiator against the tour’s most physically imposing players, particularly in matches where return pressure increases.

“I think it kind of started with trying to get more pace. Not that I never tried to, it’s just how do you unlock maybe a few extra miles per hour. That was a lot of work with the grip a little bit, but also just keeping the arm really loose.”

“I feel like all the really good servers have a super loose hand and arm. I’ve got a pretty good arm as far as throwing a football or a baseball, something like that, so I felt I could get more out of my serve. It was a lot of messing around honestly. That’s how I learn—going out, seeing what other really good servers do, messing around with spins, the way they hit the ball, what they’re focusing on. You find things that stick with you, and that seemed to help.”

The emphasis on adaptability has been consistent in Pegula’s evolution over recent seasons. Rather than isolating technical changes to the off-season, she prefers integrating adjustments into live competition environments, accepting the associated variability as part of the learning curve.

She also acknowledged the mental component of this process, stressing awareness of what changes are worth retaining and what should be discarded quickly. This selective approach, she argued, is essential in maintaining stability while still evolving technically.

“I really feel like the best thing about my game is that I’ve improved a lot over the last five years, and that’s why I’ve been able to stay a top-10 player, because the game is always evolving,” the 32-year-old added. “That’s what the top players do. It gets harder when you’re winning a lot of matches—you have to find subtle ways to improve."

"Sometimes things change that shouldn’t be changed and it doesn’t go well, but you find the balance," Pegula added. "I love it. If you don’t keep improving, you can’t stay in the top 10 or the top five.”