Jessica Pegula admitted it “sucked” and Lorenzo Musetti said it “was not easy to deal with” – but that did not prevent either player from crushing their doubles partners’ ambitions at the Australian Open.
World number six Pegula overwhelmed McCartney Kessler 6-0 6-2 in just 58 minutes, while fifth seed Musetti swept past fellow Italian Lorenzo Sonego 6-3 6-3 6-4.
Pegula and her American compatriot Kessler played doubles together on Wednesday at Melbourne Park, losing to fifth seeds Gabriela Dabrowski and Luisa Stefani.
Musetti and Sonego, meanwhile, won the doubles title at the Hong Kong Open earlier in January.
“It’s always tricky when you have to play someone that you know and like and also that you’re playing doubles with,” Pegula, 31, said.
“That part was just unfortunate because we obviously want to see each other do well separately – but not when we have to play each other.”
