Lorenzo Musetti and Jessica Pegula Advance, Australian Open

• Musetti beat fellow Italian Lorenzo Sonego 6-3 6-3 6-4 to reach the third round.
• Jessica Pegula dominated McCartney Kessler 6-0 6-2 in 58 minutes.
• Both winners had recently been doubles partners with the opponents they faced in singles.
• Players said it was hard to separate friendship from the will to win on court.

Friendships tested as rivals advance

Lorenzo Musetti and Jessica Pegula both moved through to the third round of the 2026 Australian Open after beating players they had recently teamed up with in doubles. The wins were emphatic but emotionally complicated, with both players admitting it was difficult to face close friends on the other side of the net.

Strong scorelines, familiar opponents

Musetti, seeded five, defeated fellow Italian Lorenzo Sonego in straight sets, 6-3 6-3 6-4. The pair had just won a doubles title in Hong Kong earlier in January, making this their first Grand Slam singles meeting. Musetti described the match as far from easy despite the decisive scoreline.

On the women’s side, world number six Jessica Pegula overpowered American McCartney Kessler 6-0 6-2 in 58 minutes. The two had partnered in doubles at Melbourne Park, losing to the seeded pair of Gabriela Dabrowski and Luisa Stefani. Pegula fired 18 winners and won 73% of her first-serve points in a clinical performance.

Scores and next opponents

• Lorenzo Musetti def. Lorenzo Sonego 6-3 6-3 6-4 — Musetti advances to round three.
• Jessica Pegula def. McCartney Kessler 6-0 6-2 — Pegula will face Oksana Selekhmeteva next.

Players on the challenge of competing with friends

Both Musetti and Pegula were candid about the emotional side of their wins. “It was not an easy match against one of my best friends on tour,” Musetti said, noting the shared memories and the difficulty of preparing for a match against someone close. “On court, everyone wants to win. That’s not a secret. But it’s never easy to prepare for the match.”

Pegula echoed that sentiment. “It’s always tricky when you have to play someone that you know and like and also that you’re playing doubles with,” she said. “That part was just unfortunate because we obviously want to see each other do well separately — but not when we have to play each other.” Pegula also admitted the situation “sucked,” reflecting the awkwardness of competing against a friend.

Implications for the draw

Pegula’s win keeps her on course in a draw that could see her meet defending champion Madison Keys in a potential fourth-round showdown. Musetti’s progress marks his second time reaching the third round at Melbourne Park, and he will look to build momentum as the tournament intensifies.

Both players showed they can switch quickly from partnership to rivalry when required. Their wins underline the fine balance professional players must strike between camaraderie off court and competitiveness on it — especially during a Grand Slam.

Image Referance: https://www.bbc.com/sport/tennis/articles/c78eexnvz50o