\n<\/p>\n
An excitable atmosphere continued as the fans – who paid between $25 (\u00a318.50) and $145 (\u00a3107) for what British doubles player Jamie Murray described as a “glorified exhibition” – danced to tunes played by an on-court DJ and acted up when appearing on the big screen.<\/p>\n
Both sets of players smiled and laughed throughout, further illustrating how the stars are using the event to tune up for their greater priority of the singles.<\/p>\n
For some, it underlined the view of the doubles specialists sidelined that a Grand Slam tournament had lost value.<\/p>\n
Pegula, who has been ranked world number one in the women’s doubles, and Draper were also a scratch pairing but had too much quality against a pair who are less experienced in tour-level doubles.<\/p>\n
For Draper, it was third time lucky – having seen previous planned partners Zheng Qinwen and Paula Badosa withdraw through injury.<\/p>\n
Pegula and Draper’s mutual will-to-win was more evident than some of the pairings, looking focused as they later beat Mirra Andreeva and Daniil Medvedev to reach the last four.<\/p>\n
The Russian pair earlier knocked out 24-time major singles champion Novak Djokovic and his fellow Serb Olga Danilovic in the first round,<\/p>\n
There was the loss of another star name before Tuesday’s play started, when men’s world number one Jannik Sinner withdrew through illness.<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n