Victoria Azarenka and Sloane Stephens would be very good trash talkers, says Jessica Pegula

Jessica Pegula is doubling down on her call for the inclusion of trash talk in tennis. After her run at the Miami Open, the singles semifinalist and doubles champion stated that tennis should welcome trash talk, as it would make the sport more interesting and attract more fans.

Pegula has now stated that the likes of Caty McNally, Coco Vandeweghe and 2022 Australian Open runner-up Danielle Collins would be great trash talkers in case banter is permitted.

“Caty McNally would be pretty good. I’ll throw in like, a Coco Vandeweghe – some of the American girls. Danielle Collins – she would be good. She played college tennis. She would be a good one. I think most of the American girls,” she said.

The World No. 3 also stated that former Grand Slam champions Victoria Azarenka and Sloane Stephens will be "pretty good" at it.

“Vika would be pretty good,” the 29-year-old said during her conversation with the Tennis Channel at the Charleston Open. “Sloane will be lowkey very good. She’ll just thrown in little things, like a little smile. It’d be so funny.”

Victoria Azarenka backed Pegula's desire for the exciting change in tennis with a hilarious comment, tweeting:

"Give me your best line please."

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"I think it is a little cultural for the US" – Jessica Pegula on trash talk in sports

Jessica Pegula at the 2023 Miami Open

After receiving the backing of Ben Shelton and Mardy Fish on the inclusion of trash talk in tennis, Jessica Pegula noted that her compatriots were all for the idea due to their country’s culture with sports leagues like NBA, NHL and NFL.

“The Americans are like, ‘Yeah! Let’s do it!’ But Coco [Gauff] and I were saying, I think it is a little cultural for the US. We’re used to the NBA, the NHL, the NFL. There’s a lot of trash talking,’’ she said.

The World No. 3 suggested the introduction of trash talking at one event each year, resembling golf’s WM Phoenix Open in tennis, where the usually strict rules are relaxed.

“I think it would be fun,” she added. “Obviously, maybe not everyone’s into it. I keep saying this, but we need a tournament like the Waste Management, where, one tournament a year, everything goes. Just one tournament a year. That’s all, and maybe see what happens. People wouldn’t be so upset because you know what you’re getting into.”

Pegula is currently contesting her first clay tournament of the year – the Charleston Open, where she is the top seed. She is through to the Round of 16 with a commanding 6-2, 6-0 victory over Russia’s Anna Blinkova. She will now face Romania’s Irina-Camelia Begu for a spot in the quarterfinals.