"We should start a podcast": Jessica Pegula reveals how her new project came to life

At the 2025 US Open, Jessica Pegula walked off court with another hard-fought victory over Anna Blinkova by 6-1, 6-3, but it wasn’t just her tennis that had people talking. The American, who has firmly established herself as one of the most consistent players on tour, had a lot more to share beyond forehands and backhands.

What stood out most was Pegula’s openness about two very different aspects of her career: the grind of competing under grueling conditions, and the joy of launching a brand-new project with friends. For one of the most consistent performers on the women’s tour, the press room became another arena where she delivered — candid, self-deprecating, and refreshingly real.

She admitted she wasn’t immune to what many players felt in New York’s late-summer heat. “I was cramping today too!” Pegula revealed, when asked how she manages to avoid the problem. Instead of brushing it off as just another physical challenge, she broke down her process. “Cramping isn’t always about the weather — sometimes it’s just your physiological makeup and there’s not much you can do.

Nothing fancy, nothing flashy — just preparation and discipline. And yet, while her diet may sound plain, her willingness to explain it openly made her comments resonate with fans who rarely hear this side of a pro’s routine.“I focus on staying hydrated and eating right, especially the night before. During the day I keep meals super simple, things that are easy to digest. Lots of carbs and calories through liquids.” Her go-to foods? “Honestly, it’s pretty bland — rice, chicken, electrolytes. I also like honey. It’s quick energy, easy on the stomach, and gives you simple carbs.”

But tennis wasn’t the only headline Pegula created in New York. She also spoke about her new off-court project: podcasting with Madison Keys, Jennifer Brady and Desirae Krawczyk. “We’ve all been really close for a few years now, and we’d always kind of joked, ‘We should start a podcast.’ But everyone says that, and you never really get around to it.”

What changed? The women saw their male colleagues launch Nothing Major and thought, “If they can do it, we can figure this out.” Pegula explained: “We even talked to them a little bit and they encouraged us to go for it. So we threw it together. We wanted to launch before the US Open because we get so much coverage here, and New York felt like the perfect time.”

Pulling it off in just a few weeks wasn’t easy, and Pegula admitted it was nerve-racking. “We managed to put it all together in about two to three weeks with a team, and it went live yesterday. That was a bit scary, but we’ve gotten really great feedback. For us, it’s something fun as friends, and we feel like we can give cool insight as active players who’ve all had different journeys, injuries, and difficult moments.”

Even though she doesn’t love listening back to her own voice, Pegula said the experience has been meaningful. “It’s been fun, even therapeutic, and now we’re sharing it with the world. Personally, I don’t listen to a ton of podcasts — not even ours yet, because I don’t like hearing myself.”

Pegula also gave fans a peek into what it’s like to face some of the game’s biggest weapons. “Madison Keys’ forehand is probably the toughest. It’s faster than anyone else’s — even Sabalenka’s or Rybakina’s — and it’s hard to read because she holds it so well. I always feel at the mercy of her forehand.”

She added that men’s doubles gave her a new perspective, too. “Casper Ruud’s forehand and serve were bigger than I expected. Taylor Fritz’s ball striking too — I’d put him in the top five. His ball feels very different from a lot of others.”

But her favorite story wasn’t about raw power. “She’s always been really sweet to me,” Pegula said of Monica Seles. “There’s kind of a family connection because her husband had ties to the Buffalo Sabres, which is random. She’s sent me such nice messages — super genuine and full of good energy. That really surprised me and made an impression.”