Pegula: "I hope we don't have to resort to a boycott, that would be extreme"

Fernando Murciego | 9 May 2026 | 09.00

Pegula: "I hope we don't have to resort to a boycott, that would be extreme." Source: Getty

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Different opinions continue to arrive from within the circuit regarding the ultimatum that the players have sent to the Grand Slam tournaments to increase the prize money they provide. We were missing the perspective of Jessica Pegula, whose voice should always be heard.

It doesn't matter that Jessica Pegula shone in her first match at the WTA 1000 in Rome, defeating Zeynep Sonmez in just four games (6-4, 6-0). We all knew that when she entered the press room, most questions would revolve around the whole issue of the possible boycott by professional players of the Grand Slam tournaments if they do not increase the percentage they usually distribute to the main protagonists. It is crucial to listen to the American player, a member of the player council and always transparent in front of the microphone.

Debut with victory in Rome

“I hadn't played since I lost in Madrid, sometimes I feel like there's too much time between tournaments, so I took the opportunity to train a lot, I preferred to stay here and not go back home. One is always nervous when entering your first match, especially such a competitive one, playing against someone who already won her previous round, which is always challenging. I think I showed great solidity this time, a very tough first set to then play great tennis in the second. I did everything quite well, so I am happy to have managed the nerves of the debut.”

Night out with the rest of the North Americans

“USTA always organizes a dinner for all the Americans to go out to eat one day, whoever can come, comes. I think some had matches, and others were playing, yet there were many people there. We wanted to make a video eating ice cream, doing a taste test, actually, we were going to do it days before but it didn't work out (laughs). Many people joined us and also had ice cream, they had a lot of fun, so we had a good time.”

Jessica Pegula's opinion on the boycott against the Grand Slam tournaments

“I have always been involved in that initiative to improve communication with the Grand Slam tournaments to increase prize money, to get them involved in the players' well-being and pensions, all these issues. It was great that Jannik and Aryna were very candid in this aspect, but I hope we don't have to resort to that boycott, that would be an extreme measure. What is clear is that something needs to be done, it was amazing to see them speak on this issue, it has been many years of pushing on this matter, both myself and other players, to gather the biggest voices in the locker room that we have in our sport. I am willing to do whatever it takes, as long as we are all on the same page.”

Jessica Pegula in her debut at Rome 2026. Source: Getty

Tennis, light-years in percentage compared to other sports

“For me, it's a very crazy difference, although we are aware that they are different sports, so money is managed differently. However, tennis is an old-school sport, this is one of the things that we need to change. Sometimes change is good, but it means fighting for many things. The Grand Slams have gotten away with paying not so much money because we are an individual sport, therefore, it is challenging for the players to come together. We don't have a salary like football or basketball players, so we will have to take a different approach in this regard. It will be very difficult for us to unite, but I think it is already starting to happen.”

A fragmented sport costs more to unify

“What makes our sport so difficult is that it is too fragmented, super fragmented. It is hard for all players to be on the same page. At the end of the day, what the player wants is to go out there, play, earn money, get results, and all those things. Again, I know it is very difficult. That's why it has been huge to see so many top 10 male and female players truly come together for this cause. It has been fantastic, I hope we finally manage to grab the attention of the Grand Slams. Still, I believe it will take us some time to reach the desired point.”

This news is an automatic translation. You can read the original news, Pegula: “Espero que no tengamos que llegar al boicot, eso sería algo extremo”