Jessica Pegula is ready for a Mario Tennis “Battle of the Sexes” with Taylor Fritz

CHARLESTON—Tennis fans may need to get ready for yet another Battle of the Sexes, only this time the stakes are keys to the Mushroom Kingdom.

After another three-set win at the Credit One Charleston Open, Jessica Pegula revealed fellow Nintendo partner Taylor Fritz challenged her to a round of Mario Tennis Fever and opened up about a lifelong love of gaming:

Q. I wanted to ask you about a type of tennis that comes a bit more naturally to me, which is Mario Tennis. I saw you filmed that ad as a Nintendo partner. I'm curious how that all came together, if that's a game you grew up playing?

JESSICA PEGULA: Yeah, I played Mario Tennis all the time. I've played a lot actually of just like

Super Mario Brothers, and I played on Nintendo DS, which was, yeah, great console, by the way, probably my favorite console that ever existed. But obviously they make much different, easier versions now, instead of carrying around a cube, giant box with you.

But, yes. It was really cool. It just happened, I don't know, like a few months ago they asked me

to be a part of it, and I'm a little bit of a gamer, so I think I was excited to like be involved in something that I grew up playing with.

I saw Taylor Fritz did the same kind of thing, and he already messaged me and said he would

destroy me, and I was like, all right, like calm down.

But I'm definitely much better with the controller than I am in the swing mode, which it's kind of like a Wii tennis situation. Wasn't as good with the remote, which kind of doesn't make sense. You'd think I would be better. But I was much better with the controller.

But, yeah, I mean, it's great. The thing is so small, and you can travel with it. I know some players actually travel with it, because you just hook it up really easy and play lots of fun games. So, it's cool. I'm always like -- I think I'm usually Peach, for whatever reason.

Q. In the video, you chose Daisy.

JESSICA PEGULA: Oh, sorry. Princess Daisy. No. I think I was Peach. I'm usually Peach. We played a bunch of different games, but I was probably Daisy for that one.

Q. We'll follow up on that. Is Peach or Daisy your favorite character?

JESSICA PEGULA: I don't know why. I just always tend to be like the girl. Also in Mario Kart, too. I don't know.

Pegula noted Daisy was described as an “all-around” player, which could certainly describe the top-ranked American as she aims to defend her Charleston title.

The top seed held off Elisabetta Cocciaretto in a third-set tiebreaker, and will now face Diana Shnaider for their first clay-court meeting.