Pegula: "Tennis has enchanted me since I was a girl, even before having a family and money"
The American, who lifted the title at the WTA 1000 in Dubai, talked about her role in the Player Council: "The WTA has taken a little time to implement changes."
Jessica Pegula is one of the prominent names in the WTA. Especially after claiming victory last Saturday as the champion of WTA 1000 in Dubai, a result of her excellent current form. In her last seven tournaments, she has reached the semifinals in all of them.
Ranked number five in the WTA rankings, she is not only one of the best players on the circuit but she has also been a leader in the locker room. For six years, she held the position of president in the WTA Players' Council. Recently, she was appointed by the new WTA President, Valerie Camillo, as the visible head of the Tour Architecture Council, aiming to provide a more solid structure for women's tennis starting with the congested calendar.
In 2026, players must compete in four Grand Slams, ten WTA 1000s, six WTA 500s, and the WTA Finals, if they qualify. The demanding schedule was highlighted at the recent WTA 1000 in Dubai, which saw 24 withdrawals, including the top two players in the world: Aryna Sabalenka and Iga Swiatek.
Jessica Pegula Leading Player Demands
"I think in the past, the WTA has been a little slow to implement changes. So I think it's more about sending a message that Valerie is really committed, that the council is really committed to trying to make a change. I think it's simply like, 'Hey, we hear you, and we're trying to make a difference here and we're going to try to do it the best way and as quickly as possible,'" stated the New Yorker in an interview with The Second Serve.
Apart from her efforts to assist in the progress of the women's circuit, Pegula has always been known for coming from a family of billionaires who own the Buffalo Bills of the National Football League (NFL) and the Buffalo Sabres of the National Hockey League (NHL).
Nevertheless, the criticisms she has received for having such wealth behind her have never bothered her: "I've loved tennis since I was a child, even before having a family, money, teams, or anything like that."
And she has always been clear about her dreams: "I wanted to be world number one when I was about 6 years old. As far back as I can remember, my dream has been to be number one, to play on the circuit, to win Grand Slams. It's great to look back and say that I'm striving to achieve it, to make my dream come true."
After this title, her main motivation is clear: "I want to keep improving and not stagnate. Trying new things motivates me even more than victories and titles. I am challenging myself as a person, competitor, and player; that has always been my source of motivation," stated Jessica Pegula, who will be competing in the American hard court swing (Indian Wells and Miami) as one of the top favorites.
This is an automatic translation. You can read the original news, Pegula: "El tenis me ha encantado desde niña, incluso antes de tener familia y dinero"