Madison Keys faces her “gross” apple pie challenge after Pegula bet at Australian Open

Madison Keys had one of the most entertaining moments of the Australian Open 2026 off the court, during The Players’ Box podcast. After a playful bet with her compatriot and co-host, Jess Pegula, Keys finally faced the challenge that had been looming over the tournament: tasting a slice of apple pie topped with melted cheese.

“I feel like this is gross,” Keys admitted on the podcast. “It’s melty, cold… it kind of tastes like if you accidentally took a bite of mac and cheese and apple pie at Thanksgiving at the same time. I don’t like that.”

The humorous moment came in the context of serious competition at Melbourne, where the 2025 champion Pegula had faced her friend and fellow American Keys in the fourth round. Two of the draw’s top contenders met at Rod Laver Arena, with Pegula ultimately claiming a straight-sets victory. Days before the match, the players had made a special bet: Keys had promised she would try the infamous apple-and-cheese pie that Pegula had insisted she taste multiple times.

The moment quickly became a lighthearted highlight amidst Pegula’s dominant campaign at the Open. Pegula, who went on to win the women’s singles title, praised Keys’ willingness to follow through. “Props to you for holding up your end of the bargain,” Pegula said. “A bet is a bet, and Madison paid up. That’s definitely one for the books.” The apple-and-cheese ordeal even caught the attention of the press. “I got a lot of questions from journalists, and thankfully, they looked as disgusted as I felt,” Keys laughed. “At least no one gaslit me in the press saying it sounded delicious.”

Desirae Krawczyk added context to the fun, tying it to Pegula’s success on court. “It’s kind of wild to have such highs and lows in the same week. Jess is winning the Australian Open, and here’s Madison trying a questionable dessert. It makes you realize players are human, too,” she said. The camaraderie between the players shone through, proving that even amid Grand Slam pressures, humor and friendship remain part of the game.

Keys herself reflected on the lesson behind the culinary challenge. “It was like, okay, I lost the bet, I have to eat this pie. It’s a small moment of humility in a huge tournament. And honestly, it’s one of those things you’ll remember forever,” she said. That mix of fun and vulnerability set the stage for an in-depth discussion on the tournament, both on and off the court.

Jessica Pegula shared her insights on Elena Rybakina’s dominant play, recalling her own experience on court. “She’s playing super confident, very aggressive, and well-rounded. She’s good at the net, can slice a little, and her serve is probably the best on tour right now,” Pegula said.

“When I played her at the WTA Finals, she trusted her aggressive game completely. It’s super dangerous when someone plays like that.” Brady highlighted a pivotal point in her match: “She hit this short forehand I thought was going out, and then it caught the back line. I stopped, and she hit a winner. That kind of precision and depth forces errors and keeps you on edge.”

Madison Keys agreed, emphasizing Rybakina’s serving prowess. “Her serve spots are insane. Even when she misses first serves, you’re still worried she’ll hit an ace next. Her second serve is probably the best on tour too. Playing someone like that in big moments is mentally exhausting,” the 2025 Aussie Open champion explained.

The men’s side of the tournament was no less remarkable, highlighted by Carlos Alcaraz completing his career Grand Slam at just 22. “Carlos winning his career Grand Slam at 22 is insane,” Pegula said. “I honestly thought he was older—seven Grand Slams already at that age. It’s amazing.”

Brady reflected on the emerging generation: “Carlos and Sinner are so young, achieving milestones while the Big Three era still feels fresh. I remember worrying we wouldn’t see anyone step up after Rafa, Roger, and Novak.”

Pegula also commented on Djokovic’s media response when asked about chasing younger rivals. “The reporter was insinuating he was just chasing Carlos and Jannick, and Novak said, ‘Are we going to not talk about the middle where I was chasing Rafa and Roger, then dominated, and now I’m chasing again?’ It was fired up and showed he’s motivated to keep competing at the top level.”