Pegula, queen of the invited influencers at the US Open: "What they do seems disrespectful to me"

Although she insists on saying that she is invisible on a media level and that hardly anyone recognizes her on the street, reality proves once again that Jessica Pegula is one of the tennis players that needs to be listened to when she stands in front of a microphone.

In this US Open, we have already enjoyed two of her victories, so her presence in the third round of the singles draw is already secured. What we had not heard was her sharp analysis of certain hot topics in this edition. What’s going on with the influencers who come to the stadium to disturb? Why do matches have to start after midnight? And what about the betting houses? Do we embrace them or reject them? Read on.

Jessica Pegula criticizes the attitude of influencers at the US Open

“I think I can appreciate that influencers come and show a bit of the US Open experience. I think it’s something that the US Open has utilized a lot, in terms of food, drinks, things to do, and stores. That part is part of the fan experience and is something that perhaps people don’t know and could make them want to come. But I think it’s complicated when you see videos like that where they are taking pictures and using lights for selfies. There are people down there trying to compete, and it’s their career and their job. It seems a bit disrespectful. I think maybe this year it has become a bit too much, I don’t know. I can appreciate one part, but I think when you have the other side literally interrupting the matches, it becomes a bit complicated.”

Pegula is already thinking about Leylah Fernandez

“Leylah is very tough to play against. First, being a leftie is always complicated. I think she is very aggressive. She changes the direction of the ball very well, stays close to the baseline, and hits a lot of good angles. She is not afraid to come to the net and is a good returner. I know she was obviously a finalist here and has had great results here. I think she played well here last year, losing to Aryna in a tough match. I think it’s going to be very, very difficult for both of us in the next round.”

Her energy does not depend on the crowd

“It’s a bit different. It can be very different to go out first at night or when there’s a really packed crowd that day, or maybe the weather is different, and that can influence. I would say I usually don’t draw too much energy from the crowd, neither too much positive nor negative energy. For me, I really focus on myself and giving myself energy. I’m one of those players who, although I do draw energy from the crowd, I also don’t want to get too hyped, because then I feel like I can have a drop. For me, it’s more about always giving myself energy.”

Pegula questions late matches in New York

“Yes, I still wonder why people are there so late. It’s complicated. I’ve been in that match before. Even when I played against Muchova a few years ago, it was quite empty because we played late, and I think I played against Shelby Rogers one year, and it was the same, it was quite dead. I think it’s just a scheduling issue. There are so many matches, and I know they are dealing with many different aspects regarding broadcasts and television and making sure that certain matches are played and start at certain times for those reasons, but you have to wonder if it’s really right for players to finish at two in the morning. Especially when I’m not watching television, I’m sleeping. Some people stay, but there are many who need to go home. I definitely wonder if there’s a better way, maybe starting an hour earlier or doing something different. It’s always complicated, especially for the woman who plays the second match of the night, because the first is male and can last two hours or five, and obviously, it’s something unknown that you have to deal with.”

The betting controversy

“It’s been a conversation that I think has been going on for a while, regarding the fact that female players can’t do anything related to betting sponsorships, but tournaments benefit from many of those things. I don’t know. It’s a complicated question because we receive a lot of negativity from people who use that kind of thing, from bettors. Win or lose, right? Sometimes it doesn’t even matter. We receive a lot of hate for it on social media, so it’s complicated when you see they are a big sponsor behind the court or showing up on television.”

Pegula explains Althea Gibson's legacy

“I think she is a historical figure in our sport, not just for women but for our sport in general. She probably inspired many diverse people to see that they could also play. When you look at that, you also wonder how much she inspired Serena and Venus, who are now two iconic figures in our sport, and how that inspired me. When I was younger, I always cheered for Venus and Serena when I saw them on television. It’s crazy because, at least personally, I think as I’ve gotten older I’ve realized how important it is to inspire the next generation. 

From a child’s perspective, you always go back to thinking about who you admired. I remember getting an autograph from Lindsay Davenport, and now she’s my captain for the Billie Jean King Cup. All those little things. Even Billie Jean, I know I could message her or call her whenever I wanted. Looking back at all those iconic figures, including Althea, and seeing how they have inspired every generation that has ended up inspiring me, I think I always have to try to keep that alive, whether it’s talking to kids or signing autographs, because you never know who the next person will be. It may seem crazy, but it’s not. I was one of those people.

I’m sure that all the others, starting with Althea, were part of that. For me, it’s something I’ve learned as I’ve matured and got older, something really important for this sport. Because if you’re not playing for that, what are you really playing for? I always feel I’ve responded much better when I feel I can give something back to the sport, and I think I’ve learned that from the great players. One of the first people to really start that was someone like Althea, then Billie Jean and all those people who came before us and gave so much to the sport. Now you see the history that these years later they continue to write. I think that’s the legacy you want to leave.”

This is an automatic translation. You can read the original news, Pegula raja de los influencers invitados al US Open: “Lo que hacen me parece irrespetuoso”