Amanda Anisimova and Jessica Pegula will meet in an all-American quarter-final at the Australian Open, but their ousted compatriot and defending champion Madison Keys will be forced to swallow a “disgusting” Canadian delicacy alongside the disappointment of her straight-sets loss.
Keys was eliminated from the tournament by her friend and fellow podcaster Pegula, 6-3, 6-4 on Monday – and as a result, lost a wager that means she will have to eat an apple pie covered in melted cheddar cheese.
Jessica Pegula of the US has progressed to the quarter-finals. Credit: Eddie Jim
A popular Thanksgiving dish in Canada, according to Pegula’s Canadian grandparents, the bet was conceived while the competitors were presenting their joint podcast, The Player’s Box.
“A bet is a bet, so I’ll do it,” Keys said in her post-match press conference on Friday. “I hope it’s less gross than I think it’s going to be, but we will find out.”
Pegula’s punishment for losing would have been to don a Kansas City Chiefs jersey with Travis Kelce’s name and number on the back.
It might not sound too daunting, but Pegula’s father Terry is the main owner and president of the NFL’s Buffalo Bills. She said the wager was additional incentive to win.
“My family owns the Bills. [The Chiefs] owned us in the post-season … I think that was really some extra motivation because that would have been a tough moment for me,” Pegula said after her victory.
She will now progress to her fourth Australian Open quarter-final later this week, and is excited at the prospect of facing fellow American Anisimova in the next round, despite their close ties.