By Shrivathsa Sridhar
MELBOURNE, Jan 26 (Reuters) – Madison Keys said she was leaving the Australian Open with her pride intact despite a straight-sets defeat by Jessica Pegula in the fourth round and promised to honour a pre-match wager by eating a cheese-smothered apple pie.
Keys, who dazzled at last year’s tournament to win her first Grand Slam crown, went out fighting against her close friend and said she was happy with how she had managed expectations on her trip back to Melbourne Park.
“Obviously not the way that I wanted things to end here, but still really proud of myself,” Keys told reporters following her 6-3 6-4 defeat on Rod Laver Arena.
“I think coming back, being defending champion, dealing with all of the extra pressure and nerves, I’m really proud of myself for how I handled it.
“It was just one of those days where I feel like Jess beat me, and I can walk away with my head held high.”
Keys said she would not dwell on the defeat and looked forward to the rest of the season.
“I have 11 months of the year left, there’s still lots to be proud of, and I’m going to go out and work on new things and try to implement them in the next tournament,” she added.
“I’m disappointed, but I’m really trying to not live and die on every single win and loss at this point in my career.”
Keys also plans to tuck into the apple pie to make good on the bet with her compatriot.
Pegula, whose parents own the NFL’s Buffalo Bills, would have been forced to wear a rival Kansas City Chiefs jersey if she lost the match and noted that it was extra motivation to win.
“A bet is a bet, so I’ll do it,” Keys said.
“I hope it’s less gross than I think it’s going to be, but we’ll find out, I guess.”
(Reporting by Shrivathsa Sridhar in Melbourne; Editing by Peter Rutherford)
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