It’s day nine of the Australian Open, and it’s a bank holiday here as the nation celebrates Australia Day. The grounds have been packed with fans enjoying an extra day off and some summer sun while watching the players attempt to book the last remaining spots in the singles quarter-finals.

We’ve lost reigning champion Madison Keys, who won a maiden Grand Slam title here 12 months ago. The No. 9 seed was sent packing by good friend Jessica Pegula, with whom she also co-hosts a podcast. And to add insult to injury, Keys will now be forced into a “gross” forfeit after losing the Players Box Podcast battle.

Pegula will now face another countrywoman in Amanda Anisimova, who finished runner-up at Wimbledon and the US Open, and is hoping to go all the way in Melbourne Park. But it wasn’t a great day for the American men, as Taylor Fritz was ousted by Lorenzo Musetti while struggling with some physical issues.

Defending champ out

Madison Keys became arguably one of the tour’s most popular winners when she lifted a long-awaited maiden Grand Slam trophy here a year ago. Her title defence came to an end in the round of 16 as she suffered a 6-3 6-4 defeat to Jessica Pegula. But the American was still proud of her efforts this week.

“Obviously not the way that I wanted things to end here, but still really proud of myself. I think coming back, being defending champion, dealing with all of the kind of extra pressure and nerves, I’m just really proud of myself for how I handled it,” Keys said. “Just one of those days where I feel like Jess beat me, and I can kind of walk away with my head held high.”

The 30-year-old also admitted that it wasn’t so bad losing as the reigning champ. “Honestly, I’d say it feels way better losing and still being defending champion, because it means you’ve won. So, again, it’s not like the world is ending because I lost today,” she added.

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Madi Keys must pie!

Madison Keys may walk away with her head high, but she will be brought back down to earth once she completes her forfeit. Jessica Pegula stunned her Players Box Podcast co-hosts last year when she shared her family’s Thanksgiving tradition – eating apple pie with a slice of cheddar cheese melted on the top. Keys, Pegula, Jennifer Brady and Desirae Krawczyk recorded an episode before the Keys vs Pegula AO showdown – and agreed on some forfeits.

Pegula, whose family owns the Buffalo Bills, was spared the awkwardness of having to wear a Kansas City Chiefs jersey, but Keys will now have to try the cheesy apple pie. “A bet is a bet, so I’ll do it. I hope it’s less gross than I think it’s going to be, but we will find out, I guess,” last year’s winner conceded.

Ahead of their fourth-round showdown, Keys had shared her disgust at Pegula’s unusual dessert combination and explained: “She tried to make it sound like it was the most normal thing ever, and we were all just disgusted. “She tried to double down and said, No, it’s amazing. So our producer tried it and was, like, the is grossest thing.”

Stay tuned for the upcoming episodes of the Players Box Podcast, as Pegula said co-host Brady would make sure Keys held up her end of the deal. “I think Jenny said she’s going to do it with Madi in Orlando, so I think one of them, I’m sure it will Jenny, I don’t think Madi is going to go out of her way to get this pie or cheese, so I think it’s going to be a Jenny task,” she smiled.

American girls

The American women are having a great run here. Four of the eight quarter-finalists are from the States – Coco Gauff, Iva Jovic, Jessica Pegula, and Amanda Anisimova. Pegula and Anisimova will face off in an all-American battle. Pegula had already beaten another countrywoman on Monday and said: “Honestly, I don’t mind, like, the familiarity of it.

“At least one of us will get through, and I think that’s great for American tennis. Yeah, it’s been pretty crazy how well the women have been doing and how many top-ranked girls there are. I’m just happy to be a part of that conversation.”

After beating Xinyu Wang 7-6(4) 6-4, Anisimova added: “It’s going to be fun, sucks that one American has to go out in the quarter-final but I’m really looking forward to it. Jess is such a great player, so I’m sure it’s going to be a battle.”

Taylor’s tape job

Taylor Fritz came out on the losing end of a top-10 battle with No. 5 seed Lorenzo Musetti, suffering a 6-2 7-5 6-4 defeat – his first loss to the Italian on a hard court. The ninth seed has been battling a knee issue, which ruined his pre-season, and seems to have picked up another injury. Fritz wore large strips of tape either side of his abdomen during his match against Musetti, and then called the physio during the second set, appearing to have it removed.

“I don’t know about you guys, I don’t know how that tape actually helps. Because the amount of force that is actually going through that abdominal area is unbelievable, and how something so superficial is going to keep it in place, I struggle to get my head around it,” commentator Robbie Koenig said. Brad Stine, who coaches Tommy Paul, added: “I don’t know, we’ve talked about it here and there, different times with our physio, and he said there’s really not much benefit.”

More defending champs out

Reigning men’s doubles champions and No. 2 seeds Harri Heliovaara and Henry Patten have crashed out in the third round. The Finnish-British duo lifted the trophy here last year and had won 14 of their last 15 matches, lifting titles at the Paris Masters, ATP Finals, and Adelaide International. But their run is now over, as they were shocked by the unseeded Czech pairing of Petr Nouza and Patrik Rikl, who won 7-6(4) 7-6(6).

Another hot day

After play was suspended on outdoor courts and roofs were closed on the arena courts due to extreme heat on Saturday, it’s another hot day in Melbourne. The heat stress index reached 4 this afternoon, which means players can take an extended break in between certain sets of their matches. But it’ll be way worse tomorrow – temperatures are expected to reach 44 degrees Celsius, even hotter than it was on Saturday. Expect the roofs to be shut on the bigger courts and more suspensions.

Musetti missing loved ones

No. 5 seed Lorenzo Musetti is into his first Aussie Open quarter-final and will face Novak Djokovic. The Italian is competing here without some of his loved ones around. Musetti’s coach and physio had to leave Melbourne and return to Italy for personal reasons. “They are here [in] the heart, and it’s tough also to speak because, when real life knocks on the door, it’s something really surprising, and you always understand life better. And I think I feel more mature on the court and probably I’m playing better, also for that and for them,” Musetti said.

Musetti and his partner, Veronica, welcomed their second child in late November. She is back home with both kids and the 23-year-old added: “I send a kiss to my partner, Veronica, and my two little kids. Of course, I am missing home since the 1st of January now. It’s more than 20 days that I am alone, and it’s not easy, but I feel their presence also here, so that’s a message for them.”