"She’s taken three titles from me, I can take her margarita": Jessica Pegula looks back at viral drink moment with Aryna Sabalenka
WTA
Jessica Pegula joked after ‘stealing’ Aryna Sabalenka’s margarita following the Miami Open final. The American faced the Belarusian in the latest WTA 1000 final, which ended with a 7-5, 6-2 victory for Sabalenka, securing her 25th career title and 8th at this level.
It was the ninth meeting between Sabalenka and Pegula and their third consecutive final. They had previously clashed in the 2024 Cincinnati Open and US Open finals, both won by the current world No. 1.
After the Miami final, Sabalenka was in full celebration mode, giving an interview to Tennis Channel while toasting with a margarita in honour of her latest triumph. That’s when Pegula playfully crashed the set, grabbed the world No. 1’s drink, took a sip, and shared a laugh with her.
The American quickly traveled to Charleston to compete in the first WTA 500 clay-court event of the season, where she is the top seed. Pegula made a strong debut with an easy win over qualifier Iryna Shymanovich, who was playing in a tournament of this category for the first time.
After her victory, Pegula joined Tennis Channel for an interview at the Daniel Island Tennis Center, where she was asked about the viral moment. “I had to take something from her,” Pegula joked. “She’s taken three first-place trophies from me, like come on, I can take her margarita.”
When asked about Sabalenka’s drink, Pegula responded: “Wasn’t bad, had a nice tahini salt rim, that was nice, I enjoyed that.” The world No. 4 then added with a laugh: “It was funny, I saw her up there and I’ve seen her up there with it before, and I was like okay, you know what? Enough with this girl drinking her margaritas and winning every match. Come on, this is ridiculous.”
Pegula will play her third-round match on Thursday against Australia’s Ajla Tomljanovic, who defeated 16th seed Peyton Stearns in straight sets.
“I had to take something from her, she’s taken three first place trophies from me like cmon i can taker her Margerita” 😭😭pic.twitter.com/q7OkEUoH7o
— Camille (@tenniscamfr) April 2, 2025
Cristhián AvilaTennis Journalist
Cristhián Ávila is a tennis journalist based in Santiago, Chile, and has been part of the TennisUpToDate team since early 2023. He covers the ATP and WTA Tours as well as all four Grand Slams, producing breaking news, match reports, analysis, and regular liveblogs from major tournaments.
His reporting combines statistical analysis with clear explanation, helping readers understand tactical developments, player form, and broader storylines across the tour. Working fluently in both Spanish and English, Cristhián collaborates with an international editorial team and contributes to comprehensive global coverage. As part of his work, he has conducted interviews and media interactions with leading figures in the sport, including Caroline Wozniacki and John McEnroe.
In his journalism, Cristhián places strong emphasis on careful sourcing, editorial accuracy, and updating articles promptly when new, verified information becomes available. His coverage is grounded in research, context, and direct engagement with professional tennis.
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