Pegula Beats Friend Keys at Australian Open Over Apple Pie Bet

Two best friends faced off on one of tennis's biggest stages, and the winner walked away with bragging rights and an unusual food challenge.

Jessica Pegula needed just 78 minutes to defeat her close friend and podcast co-host Madison Keys 6-3, 6-4 at the Australian Open on Monday. The victory ended Keys' title defense and earned Pegula a spot in the quarter-finals against fellow American Amanda Anisimova.

But the real story unfolded after the match when Pegula revealed the stakes of their friendly wager. Keys must now try apple pie with melted cheddar cheese on top, a Thanksgiving tradition in the Pegula family that the defending champion had previously called "gross."

"I don't know why, my grandparents are Canadian, but we have this tradition my mum always did," Pegula explained on court after her win. "They would melt cheddar cheese on their apple pie."

Keys graciously accepted defeat on both counts. "A bet is a bet, so I'll do it," she said at her post-match press conference. "I hope it's less gross than I think it's going to be but we'll find out I guess."

The stakes were equally high for Pegula if she'd lost. Keys wanted her friend to wear a Kansas City Chiefs jersey featuring Travis Kelce and Taylor Swift, despite Pegula's parents owning the rival NFL team Buffalo Bills. After her victory, Pegula playfully wrote "no Chiefs jersey today" on a courtside camera lens.

Sunny's Take

The warmth between these two competitors shines brightest after the match ended. Keys and Pegula were spotted chatting and laughing together in the locker room immediately after their battle on Rod Laver Arena, proving that friendship can survive even the highest stakes.

Keys remains proud of her tournament performance despite the early exit. "Coming back and being defending champion, and dealing with all of the extra pressure and nerves, I am really proud of myself for the way I handled it," she shared.

The victory marks Pegula's ninth Grand Slam quarter-final appearance. She joins Coco Gauff, Iva Jovic, and Anisimova as the first time four American women have reached the Australian Open quarter-finals since 2001.

Sometimes the best stories in sports aren't just about winning and losing, but about the friendships that make the competition worthwhile.