A Generous Gesture on the Tennis Circuit
Jessica Pegula, the 31-year-old American tennis star, has not only been making waves with her impressive on-court performances but also for her commendable off-court kindness. Following her victory at the ATX Open in Austin, where she defeated compatriot McCartney Kessler in the final, Pegula decided to extend a generous offer to fellow players. Instead of immediately jetting off to her next tournament in Indian Wells, she waited to take the four doubles finalists along with her on her private jet.
A Triumph in Austin
Jessica Pegula’s win at the ATX Open was a testament to her growing prowess in the tennis world. As the world No.4, she has established herself as one of the WTA Tour’s most popular players. Her victory over McCartney Kessler in the singles final was a hard-fought win that showcased her determination and skill. However, it was what she did after the match that truly captured the hearts of her fellow athletes.
A Kind Gesture Spares a Long Journey
The doubles final featured McCartney Kessler and Zhang Shuai against Anna Blinkova and Yuan Yue. Despite Kessler’s loss in the singles event, she and her doubles partner Zhang Shuai, along with their opponents Blinkova and Yuan, were set to face a challenging journey to Indian Wells. Recognizing this, Pegula offered to transport them all on her private jet. This act of kindness not only saved the players a grueling nine-hour drive but also demonstrated Pegula’s empathetic and generous nature.
Yuan Yue, one of the players who benefited from Pegula’s offer, expressed her gratitude on social media. She wrote, "Praise Miss Pegula. Okay!!! She has invited all the players in today’s game (doubles final) to take a private plane together. Thank you so much!!! Otherwise, we would all have been on the road for at least nine hours tomorrow. Oh my God, how can there be such a beautiful lady?"
A Heartfelt Appreciation
Zhang Shuai, the 36-year-old veteran player, also praised Pegula’s gesture. She shared a picture of the private jet and wrote, "The final day girls discuss how flight to IW, many different ways, someone leave from Austin/ Houston/ Dallas, someone might need to transfer at LA in the middle night because it’s tough to get a flight after the doubles final. In the meantime @jpegula offering everyone who playing at the Sunday final to join her private jet, you know she can leave away right after her singles final, but she is such a selfless and generous girl. This message is NOT to show I took the jet, just wanted to appreciate and transferring the love."
Behind the Scenes of a Generous Star
Pegula’s kindness is not just a one-off act. Her generous nature is well-known among her peers, and it’s no surprise given her background. The daughter of Terry Pegula, who owns the Buffalo Bills in the NFL and the Buffalo Sabres in the NHL, Jessica comes from a family with a net worth of around £7.7 billion, according to Forbes. Despite her family’s incredible wealth, Jessica has carved out her own path in the tennis world, earning approximately £13.5 million in prize money alone.
Preparing for Indian Wells
Pegula enters the Indian Wells tournament as the fourth seed and has received a bye through the first round. She will open her campaign against the winner of Peyton Stearns and Magda Linette. Meanwhile, McCartney Kessler has been drawn to face Anna Blinkova in the singles event, with the winner set to play world No.1 Aryna Sabalenka in the second round. The doubles draw will be made on Wednesday, and it will be interesting to see how the players who benefited from Pegula’s kindness perform in the upcoming tournament.
Jessica Pegula’s generosity and sportsmanship have made her a beloved figure in the tennis community. Her actions off the court are just as inspiring as her performances on it, and she continues to set a high standard for kindness and professionalism in the world of sports.
