A slice of apple pie smothered in melted cheddar cheese turned out to be better motivation than a Grand Slam title defence.
Jessica Pegula knocked out defending Australian Open champion — and close friend
— Madison Keys with a composed 6-3, 6-4 win on Rod Laver Arena on Monday, settling an off-court wager and booking her place in the quarter-finals.
The stakes were simple and deeply personal.
Cheddar cheese on apple pie – can the Canadians in the house confirm if this is a thing?
Asking for a friend, @JPegula 😂 pic.twitter.com/UVDnCO8F5X
— #AusOpen (@AustralianOpen) January 26, 2026
If Pegula lost, she’d be forced to wear a Kansas City Chiefs jersey — Travis Kelce and Taylor Swift crossover included. If Keys lost, she’d have to eat Pegula’s family Thanksgiving speciality: apple pie topped with melted cheddar cheese.
Pegula made sure she didn’t have to raid the Chiefs merch.
The all-American clash crackled early, both players unloading their trademark power. But it was Pegula’s cleaner shot selection and relentless consistency that told the story. She broke at the right moments, soaked up the pace, and wrapped up the match in just 78 minutes to end Keys’ title defence.
And yes, the bet still stood.
“In the US, we have Thanksgiving, and I don’t know why, my grandparents are Canadian — but this is something my mum always did,” Pegula explained on court. “They would melt cheddar cheese on their apple pie.”
Keys wasn’t thrilled, but she was honest.
“A bet is a bet, so I’ll do it,” she said later. “I hope it’s less gross than I think it’s going to be.”
Had the result flipped, Pegula would’ve been paying the price. The idea of promoting the Chiefs — fierce rivals of her family-owned Buffalo Bills — was enough extra fuel.
“She wanted me to wear a Travis Kelce slash Taylor Swift Chiefs jersey,” Pegula laughed. “Honestly, I had a lot of motivation today not to wear that.”
Pegula even signed the courtside camera with “no Chiefs jersey today” before the two friends were spotted laughing together afterwards.
Now Pegula marches on, chasing her first Grand Slam title at 31, into yet another Melbourne quarter-final — leaving Keys with dessert duties still to come.
