At the end of her breakthrough 2022 season, Jessica Pegula kept hitting a tough spot—Jessica Pegula made it to the quarter-finals of three major tournaments but lost each time to the top-ranked player. After losing to Iga Swiatek again at the US Open, Pegula lightened the mood by showing up to her press conference with a beer, joking, “I’m trying to pee for doping,” which quickly went viral.
Jessica Pegula Biography
Name | Jessica Pegula |
Age | 30 years |
Networth | $14 million |
Country | American |
This moment captured Pegula’s positive attitude despite her struggle to reach a grand slam semi-final. It took two more years and six tough quarter-final losses, but she finally broke through, defeating world No. 1 Swiatek at the US Open to make her first grand slam semi-final.
“I kept losing to top players who ended up winning the whole tournament,” Pegula said after her win. “People kept asking about winning a quarter-final, but I just focused on getting there again and winning. Finally, I did it – I’m a semi-finalist now!”
On the men’s side, Jannik Sinner, the top seed, is the only Grand Slam champion left. He will face Jack Draper in the semi-final after beating Daniil Medvedev in a thrilling match, 6-2, 1-6, 6-1, 6-4, which ended late at night in New York.
Pegula’s win over world No. 1 Swiatek means she joins fellow Americans Emma Navarro, Taylor Fritz, and Frances Tiafoe in the semi-finals. It’s the first time since 2003 that multiple US players have reached the semis in both the men’s and women’s US Open. Pegula will next face unseeded Karolína Muchová, who made it to the semi-finals last year but had wrist surgery this season. Muchová beat Beatriz Haddad Maia 6-1, 6-4.
Pegula played smart, using deep, flat shots to limit Swiatek’s angles and waiting for the right moment to attack. She moved well and absorbed Swiatek’s powerful strikes.
On the other hand, Swiatek had a tough night, struggling with her serve and timing, ending the match with 41 unforced errors. She admitted, “I couldn’t push with my serve and wasn’t solid enough from the baseline. You won’t win with that many mistakes, and that’s on me.”
Even with top players like Novak Djokovic and Carlos Alcaraz already out, the first quarter of the US Open saw a big match between the last two major champions: Jannik Sinner and Daniil Medvedev. After Sinner beat Medvedev in the Australian Open, Medvedev won their Wimbledon match in five sets. This time, the match wasn’t as tight.
Sinner started strong, hitting powerful shots and playing great defense. Medvedev struggled to keep up and made 57 errors. Sinner took the win and is now in the semi-finals of all four grand slams, joining a select group of players.
Next, Sinner will face Jack Draper, a 22-year-old friend and former junior rival. Draper is playing well, having won every set so far. Sinner looks forward to a tough but exciting match.
FAQS
Jessica Pegula is married to Taylor Gahagen, who works in the sports and entertainment industry. He is involved in managing and consulting for various clients, including athletes and entertainers.
Jessica Pegula is the daughter of Terry Pegula, a billionaire businessman and owner of the Buffalo Bills NFL team and the Buffalo Sabres NHL team. He made his fortune in natural gas exploration and real estate.
Jessica Pegula is worth about $10 million. While she’s a successful tennis player with substantial earnings from her career, her wealth is also influenced by her family’s financial background.
Jessica Pegula’s biological father is Terry Pegula. He is a wealthy businessman and sports team owner, known for his significant contributions to various industries.