"Didn't know I was micd" - Jessica Pegula jokes after her expletive-laden rant at United Cup goes public

Jessica Pegula used expletives while lamenting about missing returns during her tie against Great Britain's Katie Boulter on Sunday, December 31 at United Cup 2024.

Pegula suffered an upset defeat at the hands of Boulter while representing Team USA at RAC Arena in Perth, Australia. She squandered a one-set lead in the tie as her opponent secured the second and third sets to give Great Britain an early lead on Sunday.

Amid her struggles during the third set against the Brit, Pegula vented her anger out while talking to team captain David Witt.

"How many f***ing returns am I going to miss like this every f***ing time," Jessica Pegula said.

Unfortunately for the American, she didn't realize she was on the mic and that her words were being recorded. The clip of Pegula's tirade quickly hit the social media platforms.

She came across the video on X (formerly Twitter) and joked:

"Just upset I was missing returns. I didn’t know I was micd"

Expand Tweet

Team USA recovered from the deficit through Taylor Fritz's comprehensive victory over Cameron Norrie. Later, Pegula and Fritz joined hands for a mixed-doubles duel with Katie Boulter and Neal Skupski. They defeated the Brits despite losing the opening set to secure a 2-1 win for their side.

Jessica Pegula: "To start the year well to get some matches at United Cup I think is really important for the whole year"

During the pre-tournament press conference at United Cup, Jessica Pegula admitted to not having set any specific goals ahead of the 2024 season.

"I feel like I can't believe we're already starting the year again. I feel like I just ended the year, which I did. I don't even know if I've even looked ahead to goals, haven't even had enough time," she said.

The World No. 5, however, did suggest that tasting success in Perth would set the tone for the rest of the year.

"I think obviously to start the year well to get some matches here I think is really important for the whole year, and to get that momentum going. I think just starting the year off right, trying to have a good, positive mentality. Just playing one match at a time I think has worked well for me," Pegula added.

Jessica Pegula is scheduled to take on Alja Tomljanovic in the USA's next fixture in Group C at the United Cup, against Australia.

About the author

Ayush is a passionate and driven tennis journalist who has been writing for Sportskeeda since July 2023. Before joining Sportskeeda, he worked as a sub-editor at The Tribune. Armed with a combined bachelor's degree in English, Mathematics, and Economics, he seamlessly blends the art of multitasking into his routine.

With over 1,300 articles penned for Sportskeeda, his work has garnered nearly 9 million reads in a short span. He covered the 2025 Australian Open and Adelaide International from the ground. He prioritizes accuracy and rigorous fact-checking, and keeps abreast of tennis news through social media while also ensuring he steers clear of unconfirmed speculation and rumors.

A lifelong Novak Djokovic fan, Ayush admires how the Serb doesn't always conform to the "idealistic" image expected of tennis stars. To him, Djokovic's versatility across all surfaces cements his status as the undisputed GOAT. Since his pre-teen days, he has loved Wimbledon, and the tournament never fails to "bring out the kid inside him". In his free time, he enjoys hanging out with friends, savoring delicious meals, and writing poems.

Know More

Edited by Luke Koshi