By Shrivathsa Sridhar<\/p>\n
MELBOURNE, Jan 26 (Reuters) – Madison Keys said she was leaving the Australian Open with her pride intact despite a straight-sets defeat \u200bby Jessica Pegula in the fourth round and promised to honour a \u200cpre-match wager by eating a cheese-smothered apple pie.<\/p>\n
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Keys, who dazzled at last year’s tournament to win her \u200cfirst Grand Slam crown, went out fighting against her close friend and said she was happy with how she had managed expectations on her trip back to Melbourne Park.<\/p>\n
“Obviously not the way that I wanted things to end here, but still really \u2060proud of myself,” Keys told \u200creporters following her 6-3 6-4 defeat on Rod Laver Arena.<\/p>\n
“I think coming back, being defending champion, dealing with all of the \u200dextra pressure and nerves, I’m really proud of myself for how I handled it.<\/p>\n
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“It was just one of those days where I feel like Jess beat me, and I can \u200bwalk away with my head held high.”<\/p>\n
Keys said she would not dwell on \u200cthe defeat and looked forward to the rest of the season.<\/p>\n
“I have 11 months of the year left, there’s still lots to be proud of, and I’m going to go out and work on new things and try to implement them in the next tournament,” she added.<\/p>\n
“I’m disappointed, but I’m really trying to not \u2060live and die on every single win and \u200bloss at this point in my career.”<\/p>\n
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Keys also \u200bplans to tuck into the apple pie to make good on the bet with her compatriot.<\/p>\n