Jessica Pegula doubts Jack Draper will follow back on Instagram after US Open mixed loss

NEW YORK—Jessica Pegula and Jack Draper have come a long way from the “four words” they claim to have exchanged prior to their US Open mixed doubles partnership.

But despite an impressive run to the semifinals, Pegula doubts she’s getting that follow-back on IG.

“I followed you on Instagram,” Pegula told Draper during their post-match press conference. “I realized you follow like five people or something. So, I don't think I'm getting that follow. But it's fine.”

It turns out Draper, who has 479,000 followers, actually follows seven accounts on his official Instagram page: a mix of brands, sponsors, and two Alzheimer research and charity accounts—the latter to raise awareness of the disease following his grandmother’s 2015 diagnosis.

“I don't really go on it too much,” replied a sheepish Draper, who learned from the on-court announcer that Pegula hailed from Buffalo, New York.

The pair tried to keep things loose despite the intensity of the moment, Draper singing along with the Arthur Ashe Stadium DJ in the midst of their clash with Iga Swiatek and Casper Ruud.

“I was like, Oh, a Goo Goo Dolls fan?” teased Pegula. “He actually sang [Iris by the Goo Goo Dolls] at one point on the changeover, which was pretty funny,” said Pegula.

Though the duo ultimately lost, 3-5, 5-3, 10-8 in the match tiebreaker, Draper enjoyed his first US Open night session in front of a full Fan Week crowd.

We're a team. It was a lot of fun. We had a lot of funny things said in between the points. Yeah, it was good. Pumping each other up, as well. Jack Draper on playing mixed doubles with Jessica Pegula

“It's such a good feeling to get the energy from the crowd,” said Draper, who will likely be the No. 5 seed in the men’s singles draw.

“It was a lot of fun. We had a lot of funny things said in between the points. Yeah, it was good. Pumping each other up, as well.”

Pegula, ranked fourth, saw little difference between her mixed doubles semifinal and her usual singles outings under the lights.

“Arguably more crazy almost than a singles match,” said Pegula, the 2024 singles runner-up. “Sometimes people are still filtering in. There's a lot of matches going on throughout the day. They're switching sessions.

“Yeah, I don't think the atmosphere, [that] you could really beat it.”

With two more weeks of the tournament left, Pegula and Draper will have plenty of time to reminisce—in person if not in IG.