Jessica Pegula still can't forget the TOUGH LOSS against Alex Eala

[0:00] So do you think you did well today? [0:03] Super proud of myself today. [0:05] I think it was a bit of a mental and physical battle [0:07] just dealing with the heat. [0:09] Felt like it got really hot out there. [0:11] Obviously, it was a little bit of a longer match [0:14] and longer points. [0:16] Getting used to the conditions here with just one day yesterday [0:19] was really tough, but super happy with just the way [0:22] I was kind of mentally able to bounce back [0:25] from losing that tough match on Monday. [0:29] But it sucked, and so being able to kind of flush it [0:33] and get out there and battle after even losing the first set, [0:37] I think it was good. [0:43] Hey, Jess, well done. [0:44] So I guess it's sort of like a flashback to DC with Magdalena. [0:47] I know last week you were talking about some of the players [0:50] that kind of know what you're getting yourself [0:52] into with back-to-back three-setters with her. [0:54] She's sort of getting that status on the hierarchy of people [0:57] that you were talking about last week. [0:59] Yeah, I mean, it's one thing, it's [1:02] kind of nice knowing that you just played them last week, [1:05] like there's nothing new. [1:07] But at the same time, I think her mindset probably [1:10] going is when she already had a match, [1:12] I only had a day to kind of turn things around. [1:14] And so I felt like the momentum maybe [1:16] was a bit more in her favor in that sense, [1:19] and considering we went to three sets. [1:21] So it was very similar to the match that we played in DC, [1:26] like very, very similar. [1:27] So I was just happy with the way I was kind of able to mentally [1:32] stay in there today. [1:33] I do think it was more of a mental battle just for me figuring out what [1:38] to do and not get too frustrated. [1:41] And then obviously when it got pretty hot, I think I was struggling a bit, [1:45] getting a little bit tired, but was able to just kind of keep my focus and my emotions [1:49] and tap, but she's a tough opponent, she makes you play a lot of balls, [1:54] and makes you have to really beat her, and competes very well. [1:57] So I think having to face an opponent like that, you know, [2:01] back to back is never easy, especially with a quick turnaround this week. [2:06] Hi, Jessica. [2:07] I'm wondering, the WTA recently announced that there'll be that one-time gender test. [2:12] I wonder how you feel about it, if players have been given the chance [2:15] to give their opinions, and what's your opinion? [2:18] Yeah, I mean, my opinion is I think the WTA just wanted to update their policy [2:22] based on what they've seen from other, you know, sporting organizations. [2:26] And so far, at least from my point of view, I don't really have any pushback on it. [2:31] I think most of, I haven't heard even being on council, [2:35] no players have really mentioned or said anything about it. [2:38] So now that it's been announced, I think we'll see, obviously, [2:42] now that we're here in Toronto, a bigger tournament, and going into Cincy, [2:45] when the testing starts, we'll see if there's any more feedback. [2:48] But I think, so far, no one's really said anything, [2:51] and I think it's more just the tour making a decision, updating it, [2:55] and it kind of is what it is. [2:56] So do you think the testing is going to begin in Cincy? [2:59] I think it's Cincy. [3:00] Have you been told? [3:01] Is it Cincy? [3:03] Yeah, I think it's Cincinnati is when it starts. [3:06] So you've been communicated some details about how this is going to roll out? [3:09] Oh, yeah, yeah. [3:10] But yeah, like we had a whole, we had to watch a video and do a whole thing [3:15] to kind of like a roll out of the education and why we're doing it. [3:18] And it wasn't just kind of laid on us, like you have to do this. [3:21] There was a lot of education and stuff in the background of all the stuff [3:26] that players have had to do to learn about it. [3:28] Okay. [3:29] Yeah. [3:35] Hi, Jessica. [3:37] I know you were on the Players Council for a long time. [3:39] You have a different role now. [3:40] But I just want to ask you a bit about social media and the abuse [3:46] and harassment to which the female players are subjected. [3:50] Have you seen any improvement? [3:52] Or first of all, can you just address the harm that causes? [3:55] But have you seen any improvements since the WTA released that report last June, [4:01] looking at the numbers? [4:02] I mean, it's such a tough topic. [4:06] I mean, first of all, the negative sides to it. [4:08] I mean, people just, you get terrible messages all the time, whether you win, [4:12] whether you lose, they hit different platforms. [4:15] You try to block them, but they'll find an old post that they can still comment on [4:19] or an old video or they find ways. [4:22] And it's just, it's really unfortunate. [4:24] And I think it's just not just in our sport. [4:27] It seems like it's in a lot of sports. [4:28] But I think women specifically, it definitely seemed like it's catered to be worse [4:35] in our sense. [4:38] It's just really unfortunate. [4:39] And I think a lot of the betting has a lot to do with that, which is, you know, [4:43] I know that betting in a way can grow the sport. [4:47] It gets people interested. [4:48] I mean, I've seen that in several other sports, [4:50] how it gets people really interested in a game that maybe they weren't interested in before. [4:54] But unfortunately, you know, kind of all the bad apples and the bad seeds that have to, [5:00] that go through that and probably have other issues going on in their lives [5:04] where they feel the need to harass players about it. [5:07] I mean, I think that's, to me, it seems like that's the main reason [5:11] that we are seeing so much abuse and hate. [5:14] I'm not really, what was the rest of your question? [5:16] Just, I've seen a difference. [5:26] Yeah, I mean, I don't know if I've really seen much of a difference, [5:29] but just on my end, I just try to, like, I try to, you know, [5:34] not allow any comments, you know, on match days, which actually reminds me today. [5:38] I don't think I did that. [5:39] So I'll probably have messages. [5:41] But I think just more from my perspective, like controlling what I can control. [5:45] And I think that does make it better. [5:47] I do hope that one day we have a platform [5:49] that will maybe do a better job of weaning those things out. [5:53] I think right now there, there was a tool, but it was through Facebook [5:58] and I didn't have Facebook and I just didn't feel like making a Facebook. [6:01] So I didn't sign up for it. [6:03] But just a way to kind of filter out a lot of those comments. [6:07] You don't actually have to even see them. [6:09] But at least for my sake, I kind of just limit things on my social side [6:14] and just try not to look at it. [6:16] And it's pretty interesting how, like, it always seems to be directly, [6:21] like, during your match or right after. [6:23] But after a few days, like it like after a day, they don't they don't happen. [6:27] So it's a very reactionary kind of response that you get from a lot of these betters. [6:32] So when you can limit that or shut off your comments, I mean, you're usually OK. [6:36] And no one really ends up saying anything. [6:39] But it's just it's unfortunate that people suck sometimes, you know. [6:45] I want to ask you about the expanded 1000 level format that we have now [6:49] for a second year in a row here in Canada, just in terms of player reaction to that. [6:53] And what are the pros and the cons for you personally with the extra time [6:57] that these tournaments are now occupying on the schedule? [7:00] Yeah, this swing, it's been it's been weird. [7:03] I'm not even sure I really even I can keep up [7:07] because we're so used to like the two week events or a one week event [7:10] that now that it's staggered kind of awkwardly, I have to like I'm looking at the fact sheet, [7:15] like trying to still get it in my brain of like, OK, I think it's a Thursday final [7:19] and Cincinnati starts this day. [7:21] It's just very different. [7:23] And so I think it's something that still confuses me. [7:25] But I mean, I don't know. [7:27] I will see. [7:28] I mean, last year was the first time this year. [7:30] I think it's a is it a little bit different maybe than even last year? [7:34] Or is it the exact same? [7:35] I don't know. [7:36] Oh, it's the exact same. [7:37] OK, I personally don't love the two week events. [7:43] This makes it feel kind of shorter in a way, which I like. [7:46] But I know maybe it's not ideal for tournaments to be having like Thursday finals. [7:50] And it's just kind of weird kind of the setup. [7:52] So I don't really know what I think about it yet. [7:55] But I don't know, you'll have to maybe ask me after this year. [7:59] It's just it just it's different. [8:01] So to me, it feels always kind of weird for casual fans. [8:07] They might think coming in from a hard court tournament to another hard court tournament. [8:11] Same, same. [8:11] What are the differences between DC and here in terms of the court and the balls after your first match today that you've noticed? [8:18] Yeah, I mean, there's so many differences. [8:21] It's it's something that you know, like the normal fan probably has no idea of someone that doesn't play tennis. [8:26] But I mean, one is the weather. [8:29] I mean, that can change the way the balls are completely. [8:32] These balls are pretty light. [8:34] At least it's the same ball now, which is great. [8:36] So you're playing with the same ball, but they react totally different compared to the weather. [8:40] D.C. shockingly wasn't that hot that week, which was pretty uncommon. [8:45] So today definitely felt a bit hotter. [8:47] The balls kind of fly a bit more. [8:49] And I would say that maybe the court in D.C. felt a little bit slower or grittier in a way where I think here it always kind of skids through the court a bit more, [8:59] which I like. [9:00] But it does, you know, with only a day, it takes a little bit of time to get used to those types of conditions. [9:07] But, yeah, I mean, it it feels different. [9:09] It feels different. [9:11] Hey, Jessica. [9:12] So after the Washington final, it seems like there was a push on, like, social media for Filipino fans to subscribe to the podcast. [9:19] I'm curious, I guess you've noticed that growth. [9:22] But can you speak to that and the new digital fan base that you're getting? [9:26] Mm hmm. [9:28] Filipino fans are insane. [9:30] They like were. [9:32] Yeah, we were getting like, I don't know how many we ended up, but we definitely got like four or five thousand more subscribers after that match. [9:38] Even when I was like leaving the stadium, they're like cheering for me and I'm like, like they're just excited to be there. [9:46] There's just a lot of excitement. [9:48] And so I think it's really cool that maybe because she's been on our podcast before that maybe they like me a little bit more and maybe I've gained some Filipino fans. [9:58] But it's it's crazy their their presence. [10:01] I think I hadn't really looked online much yet, but I someone from our teams did Texas. [10:07] There was a lot of like Filipino comments online and people just a lot more, I guess, interaction with their fan base, especially through our podcast, which is I mean, it's pretty cool. [10:18] I'm glad that they like to listen and follow. [10:22] And I think that's really neat that it's it's crossed over a bit.