Jessica Pegula’s Australian Open conqueror Victoria Azarenka once had a run-in with tennis fans in which she said they’d had ‘too many glasses of Pimm’s’ after a match was interrupted.
Azarenka, who won Down Under in both 2012 and 2013, is into the semi-finals in 2023 having knocked out top seed Pegula – who is set to inherit part of a £5.5billion fortune.
The Belarusian veteran will now take on Elena Rybakina in the semi-finals – and will be hoping to have well behaved spectators after a 2015 incident at Wimbledon.
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The former World No.1 questioned those in attendance after losing to Serena Williams in the quarter-finals after some strange noises had interrupted points.
She said: “I think they might have had a few too many glasses of Pimm’s or whatever. When people are drinking, every time the announcer says: ‘Make sure you hydrate yourself’ I think he means with water, not with alcohol.”
Having been a set to the good before losing 3-6, 6-2, 6-3, Azarenka was in the mood to speak out having been a semi-finalist in 2011 and 2012.
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She added: “Both the women on court are trying their hardest and giving everything they have, and they make a noise. Is that a problem of tennis? We’ve got to look a little bit past that.”
In 2023, Azarenka got an upset win over Pegula who is the daughter of the owners of NFL side Buffalo Bills and NHL outfit Buffalo Sabres.
The family have an estimated net worth of £5.5billion according to Forbes, but that hasn’t stopped Pegula finding her own success with more than £6.5million in prize money.
(Image: Getty Images)
Pegula said back in 2020: “I know I was more privileged than other people. I’m aware of that. I try to be very down-to-earth, and I think I am.”
The 28-year-old has added to her earnings with £451,000 thanks to her quarter-final appearance in the singles draw, with Azarenka banking at least £751,000.
Azarenka said: “My tennis wasn’t bad last year but I was not really mentally there. I played with a lot of fear, a lot of anxiety. I worked a lot on my mindset. Challenging myself on things I wouldn’t really do before.”
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