Jessica Pegula is keen to learn how to play a shot just like Carlos Alcaraz.
On Wednesday night the 30-year-old played her first match since a disappointing WTA Finals campaign in Riyadh back in November.
She took to court at the iconic Madison Square Garden in New York to face US compatriot Emma Navarro in an exhibition match.
Their match was followed by Carlos Alcaraz taking on Ben Shelton, two of the ATP Tour‘s most entertaining and exciting players to watch.
Alcaraz has a very expansive game that produces plenty of flair which excites all those who watch him play.
One of his most impressive shots in his repertoire is the drop shoot, which he plays better than arguably any other player on tour.
He has outsmarted many players with this shot and it has won him plenty of points, especially very important ones.
Pegula has noticed this and is keen to implement them more into her own game. She tried to do just that against Navarro in New York, but not to the level of success she was hoping for.
“I’m trying but they’re not working tonight,” Pegula told Tennis channel during the exhibition contest. “I missed the first four, I’m trying to channel Carlitos and it’s not working.”
For the first time in six years, Madison Square Garden hosted some tennis action. Pegula and Navarro produced a tight affair, with Navarro edging the first set on a tiebreak.
The US Open semi-finalist went on to defeat Pegula, who reached the final at Flushing Meadows, 7-6, 7-5, and was presented with a gold trophy post-match.
The sold-out crowd was thoroughly entertained by the action on court, as a match tiebreak was needed to separate Alcaraz and Shelton in the second match.
Shelton won the first set, before Alcaraz proceeded to win the second set and send the match into a deciding set match tiebreak.
It was Alcaraz, the reigning French Open and Wimbledon champion, who prevailed 4-6, 6-2, 10-7 and like Navarro, he lifted a gold trophy during the post-match ceremony.
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