Watch: ‘Cotton Eyed Joe’ causes chaos in Pegula vs Swiatek match

James Richardson 13 Aug 2023 3:03 PM

Jessica Pegula reacts during her match against Iga Swiatek

Iga Swiatek and Jessica Pegula were forced to replay a point in their Canadian Open semi-final after ‘Cotton Eyed Joe’ started blaring through the PA.

Pegula commented on the incident afterwards but didn’t feel that it had much impact on the result. The replayed point went down in favour of Swiatek as did the tibreaker.

However, Pegula proved to be the player to take the jarring interruption in her stride as she rallied from a break down in the third set to secure a place in the Montreal final.

Pegula also had to replay a point in her match against doubles partner Coco Gauff earlier this week when the stadium lights turned on mid-point.

She laughed off the impact of that break in play in a week full of considerable disruptions.

“I just thought it was funny,” Pegula said. “I’ve never had that happen, let alone with ‘Cotton-Eye Joe.’

“I was, like, is this really happening right now?

“Of all the songs.

“It was just, like, what is going on?”

Unexpected Cotton Eyed Joe has serious meme potential pic.twitter.com/HJaNmEXmQh

— Kenny Ducey (@KennyDucey) August 13, 2023

Pegula was ultimately relieved to hold her nerve and book a WTA 1000 final at last after a few recent near misses.

“It was a great match,” Pegula said. “It was tough. Kind of a roller coaster. Really up and down, but I’m glad I was able to hold my nerve there at the end.”

Pegula endured frustrations through the second set besides the musical interruptions, but she always felt like she had Swiatek’s number.

“Even though I served for it at 5-4, I thought she played a great game,” Pegula said. “She hit two lines and just went for her shots, and sometimes that just happens.

“Then in the third, got down to break. I was getting frustrated that I wasn’t holding, but then at the same time I knew she was having trouble holding as well. It was whoever could kind of consolidate the break.”

Swiatek wasn’t sure where she went wrong as she admitted feeling fatiguedn but she certainly won’t be blaming Cotton Eyed Joe for her downfall.

“She really pushed me, so I needed to change something up,” Swiatek said.

“It was working, but in the third, I don’t really know what happened when I was leading.

“I’ve got to watch the match and analyze it, because for sure she was fighting for every point and I did as well. It was a tricky match.”