Musetti and Pegula put friendships aside

Musetti and Pegula put friendships aside to advance

By Sarah Jenkins • January 23, 2026

Lorenzo Musetti and Jessica Pegula beat their doubles partners at the Australian Open, advancing amid awkward friendship clashes.

Jessica Pegula and Lorenzo Musetti both beat players they had recently teamed up with in doubles at the Australian Open.
Pegula defeated McCartney Kessler 6-0 6-2; Musetti beat Lorenzo Sonego 6-3 6-3 6-4.
Both players acknowledged the awkwardness of competing against friends but said on-court focus was non-negotiable.
Pegula now faces Oksana Selekhmeteva; Musetti moves into the third round at Melbourne Park.

H2: Singles wins after doubles partnerships

Jessica Pegula and Lorenzo Musetti each faced a rare challenge at the Australian Open — taking the court against players they had recently partnered with in doubles. Pegula, seeded sixth, overwhelmed American McCartney Kessler 6-0 6-2 in 58 minutes. Musetti, the world No.5 seed, saw off compatriot Lorenzo Sonego 6-3 6-3 6-4 to reach the third round.

Both matches carried extra emotional weight because of recent doubles ties. Pegula and Kessler had paired up in Melbourne Park earlier in the week but lost to the experienced pair of Gabriela Dabrowski and Luisa Stefani. Musetti and Sonego had won a doubles title together at the Hong Kong Open just 11 days before meeting in singles.

H3: Pegula dominated despite awkward build-up

Pegula admitted the situation was uncomfortable. “It sucked,” she said after the match, pointing to the awkwardness of competing against a friend and doubles partner. Still, on court she was the superior player — firing 18 winners, committing just seven unforced errors, and winning 73% of her first-serve points.

She repeatedly tried to team up with Kessler for doubles across tournaments, Pegula explained, but scheduling and sign-in issues had previously prevented it. Now, having beaten Kessler in straight sets, Pegula will face Russia’s Oksana Selekhmeteva next. A potential fourth-round match with defending champion Madison Keys could follow.

H3: ‘It was not easy’ — Musetti on facing a friend

Lorenzo Musetti acknowledged the emotional complexity of playing Sonego. “It was not an easy match against one of my best friends on tour,” he said. “We shared a lot of nice memories. It’s not easy to separate those things.” Musetti’s comments echoed Pegula’s — on court, personal ties must be set aside.

Despite that, Musetti delivered a composed, consistent performance. He used his variety and one-handed backhand to control rallies, closing out the victory in four sets and securing his place in the third round for the second time at the Australian Open.

H4: What this means going forward

Both players showed an ability to switch mindset quickly from teammate to opponent, a skill that can pay dividends deep into a Grand Slam draw. For Pegula, the win reinforced her status as a major contender; for lorenzo musetti, it confirmed steady progress at Melbourne Park.

H5: Quick facts