Trash talk is a prominent aspect of every sport. In tennis, trash talk mostly takes place off-court rather than in active play. Nick Kyrgios is quite the famous trash-talker in the game, having gone after many players, including Novak Djokovic. However, the WTA number 3, Jessica Pegula, revealed that Frances Tiafoe is also great at taking jibes at players. 

Interestingly, after her second-round win in the Charleston Open this year, Pegula had stated that she wouldn’t mind a bit of trash-talking on the court for at least “one tournament a year” where “everything goes”–a significant departure from the usual tennis etiquette. And if trash-talking was allowed by the authorities, she has her hopes pinned on Frances Tiafoe and another currently inactive WTA star to bring their A-game.

Jessica Pegula on the biggest trash-talkers in tennis

If a player on tour was interviewed 30 years ago, the answer to the biggest trash talker in tennis would be John McEnroe. In a recent interview, Pegula was asked if Tiafoe was the one she was trying to remember. She replied affirmatively and said that he could throw insults without inhaling for a while. 

“Yeah. He’s not a girl. He trash-talks me all the time, actually. Yeah, Frances. He just talks, like, constantly (smiling). I don’t know. I’ll have to think about that.” Along with these two players, another American star Coco Gauff wants to integrate playful insults into the racket sport. For them, it is the American in them calling for a cultural change. 

The 29-year-old American talked about who she believed was the biggest American who dished out comical insults. After spending some time thinking, she first took the name of Jennifer Brady, former World number 13.

“Oh, my gosh. We have talked about this. I don’t remember who I said. I don’t know. Jen Brady was pretty good when she was playing. But you would just laugh at her and not take it too serious. I don’t know. I have to — I don’t know. I don’t remember who I said in Charleston,” said Pegula.

Read more: ‘This Fulfills My American Rights’- Tennis World Reacts as Coco Gauff and Jessica Pegula Lead US Squad for Billie Jean King Cup 2022

Coco Gauff wants more verbal fights

As she prepares to repeat her 2022 French Open stint, Gauff said funny commentary can improve tennis. As per her, the banter between players can improve in some places. She used basketball as setting a good example. Trash-talking is a norm there without letting it affect someone personally. She said,  “You see in basketball, guys go at each other and then they go out for a drink afterward.”

Gauff said, “Like at Tiebreak Tens, that would be a good event to try it out. I would love to trash talk. I think the American mentality is also different. I think it’s a cultural thing.” While tennis is a sport about being respectful to opponents, many players are aiming to take it up a notch, all the while respecting the spirit of the elite sport.

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