Victoria Azarenka weighs in on Jessica Pegula's call to have trash talk in tennis

Victoria Azarenka is the latest to join the conversation around Jessica Pegula's proposal to have more trash talk in tennis.

Following their doubles title victory at the 2023 Miami Open, Jessica Pegula and Coco Gauff advocated for trash talk to be incorporated into tennis as they believe it would make the sport more 'interesting.'

"I think it would make the sport interesting. I think this is something that would bring more fans in. Pretty much every other sport has it. In college tennis they trash talk a lot," Gauff said.

Jessica Pegula, on her part, stated that players on the ATP tour are able to have more fun with trash-talking.

"Guys are just better at having fun with it. With the girls, it gets too personal. I don't know why. I think it would be fun," Pegula said.

Pegula continued the conversation on social media as she asked fans to voice their opinions on trash talk.

"Thoughts on trash talk in tennis? Yay or nay?" Pegula tweeted.

Victoria Azarenka soon weighed in on the American's proposal, and joked about wanting to hear Pegula's best attempt at trash talk.

"Give me your best line please," Azarenka commented, with a laughing emoji.

Fellow American Ben Shelton also responded to Pegula's question, giving full support for the idea.

“I’m in. Adds to the atmosphere of college tennis,” Shelton wrote.

The 20-year-old playfully questioned whether he should start trash-talking while competing at the Estoril Open, to gauge how the tennis community would react to it.

"Should I start this week. See how the tennis world responds," he wrote.

Jessica Pegula through to the 3rd round of Charleston Open 2023

Jessica Pegula at the 2023 Miami Open

Jessica Pegula made a strong start to her campaign at the 2023 Charleston Open with a straight-sets victory over Anna Blinkova.

After the match Pegula expressed her fondness for the Charleston venue, stating that this was where she honed her skills during her childhood.

"I used to train here for a couple years, I grew up in Hilton Head, so I know I lot of people came to watch me. This was kind of like my childhood and where I learned to really play tennis, so it’s really special," Pegula said in her post-match interview.

Pegula will take on Irina-Camelia Begu in the third round in Charleston. Begu booked her spot against the American with a 6-1, 6-4 victory over Sofia Kenin.