‘Not Even the Same Tournament’ – Shock Exit Sparks Jessica Pegula’s Brutal Critique of Australian Open Conditions
In recent years, playing surfaces have been a hot topic in the tennis world, with players often commenting on how the courts behave differently at various tournaments. The 2025 Australian Open has been no exception, with players pointing out how much slower the surfaces have become this year. One of the most vocal critics has been American star Jessica Pegula. After her third-round match, the 30-year-old expressed her dissatisfaction with the court conditions in Melbourne.
Pegula, considered a strong contender for the title, suffered a surprising defeat to Olga Danilovic, losing 7-6 (3), 6-1. Her match took place during the night session under the lights, where the slower surface seemed to work in her opponent’s favor. Pegula was candid in her post-match press conference, addressing the slow court conditions.
“She served like 80% first serves, and when you’re playing against a lefty in these slow conditions, it’s really tough,” Pegula said. “It felt slower than a clay court, and the balls were so heavy. That definitely favored her, especially with her lefty, whippy forehand up to my backhand. It’s tough… it’s not even the same tournament from my first-round match.”
Pegula isn’t the first to voice concerns about the slow surface at Rod Laver Arena. A few years ago, Stefanos Tsitsipas echoed a similar sentiment, stating, “Rod Laver may be one of the slowest courts out there.” This view contrasted sharply with that of 10-time Australian Open winner Novak Djokovic, who described the courts as fast in 2021.
During the 2021 Australian Open, Djokovic remarked on the unusual speed of the courts, describing them as “like ice.” He noted that the courts were the fastest he had ever experienced in Melbourne, and his record 26 aces in a match against Frances Tiafoe underscored the point. “Honestly, it’s like ice out there,” Djokovic said. “The speed of the court has been the fastest in the last 15 years.”
Fast forward to 2025, and while Pegula was frustrated by the slow surface, Danilovic thrived in the conditions. After securing the biggest win of her career, the Serbian player was overjoyed. At 23, Danilovic is making significant progress in her career, and her victory over Pegula marked her second win against a Top 10 player. The mentee of Novak Djokovic and daughter of basketball legend Predrag Danilović, Danilovic expressed her emotions after the match.
“I’m super happy with the way I played. She’s such a great player, and I knew I had to bring my AAA+++ game to beat her,” Danilovic said. “But I really believed in myself. This is my first time on such a big court, on Rod Laver Arena, and I’m just so happy at the moment.”
With this remarkable performance, Danilovic will enter the top 50 of the WTA rankings for the first time in her career. She now faces Paula Badosa in the fourth round, with a place in the Australian Open quarterfinals on the line.
