Jessica Pegula reveals what goes on inside the Australian Open locker room

Jessica Pegula is known for her honesty and thoughtfulness when she meets with reporters at tournaments around the world.

So it was no surprise at the Australian Open when she seemed at ease answering a question that is on the lips of many tennis fans: what is it like sharing a locker room with your rivals?

Tennis is a peculiar sport in a way, given players have little choice but to see each other in the locker room before and after a match.

This would never happen in team sports — imagine if Spain and England were told they had to share the same room prior to kick-off in the 2023 FIFA Women's World Cup final.

But tennis players understand the situation and do their best to cope, as world number six Pegula explained.

"It definitely can be tense," Pegula said.

"Not in a bad way, but [when] you come off the court — maybe you just played someone — there's a lot of emotions.

"You're upset, [or] they're upset. Or you just see another girl come off a crazy match and she's really upset. It is a weird dynamic.

"I think that's special a little bit to tennis that you could be changing and getting ready right next to the person that you're playing, or that you lost to, or that you beat.

"I think we all have a good awareness. We just don't like to get in each other's way too much if that's the case, but it can be a little tense and a little awkward at times."

How does Pegula approach the situation?

"I just try to stay in my lane," she said.

"It depends — if you know the person really well and you can't avoid each other, you're probably on the same schedule and you're maybe right next to them, you can small talk and stuff like that.

"I think it just kind of depends on who it is and what your relationship with them is.

"But I never try to go out of my way too much to make it a huge deal.

"I think sometimes when you have your match, you just like to stay in your lane a little bit and keep to yourself."

When rivals become friends

While the locker room features rivalries and competing egos, it can also foster friendships.

Following her first-round match at Melbourne Park yesterday, world number four Amanda Anisimova spoke of her close relationship with Aryna Sabalenka and Paula Badosa.

The trio teamed up to create a TikTok video while contesting the Brisbane International earlier this month.

"I like both of the girls. They are very nice," Anisimova said.

"I think they were about to film a TikTok and asked me to join in, but it was just funny."

Anisimova, a Wimbledon and US Open finalist, feels building friendships on the tour is important.

"I like to have fun with the players," she said.

"I feel like I have a lot of good relationships on tour and I think that's really important personally for me.

"We're around each other more than our own family and friends … most of the time.

"I think it's important to have those relationships and be able to have fun off the court."

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