Jessica Pegula is gearing up to compete against fellow American Coco Gauff in the final match of the Wuhan Open on Sunday. Pegula secured her spot in the final by defeating Aryna Sabalenka in a hard-fought semi-final match with a score of 2-6, 6-4, 7-6. At 31 years old, Pegula, known for her significant wealth, has been affectionately nicknamed ‘Dafu’ by her Chinese fans, which translates to ‘Big Rich’ in Mandarin.
During an episode of the Player’s Box Podcast, Pegula shared her thoughts on the nickname, expressing that while it is not meant to be negative, she initially requested a more modest nickname without success. Her fellow tennis players, including Madison Keys, Jennifer Brady, and Desirae Krawczyk, playfully teased her about the nickname.
Pegula’s financial success goes beyond her achievements in tennis. Her father, Terry Pegula, a prominent figure in the petroleum industry, is the owner of the NFL team Buffalo Bills and NHL franchise Buffalo Sabres, alongside his wife, Kim. The Pegula family’s combined net worth is an impressive $7.5 billion, with Jessica Pegula’s personal net worth estimated at $13 million.
Having defeated opponents such as Hailey Baptiste, Ekaterina Alexandrova, Katerina Siniakova, and World No. 1 Sabalenka in the tournament, Pegula is now aiming for her fourth singles title of the season as she faces Gauff in the Wuhan Open final.