As Jessica Pegula prepares to compete in her first Grand Slam final at the US Open, her journey to the pinnacle of tennis has been shaped significantly by her parents, Kim and Terry Pegula.
Despite their unwavering support, Pegula once revealed that her relationship with her father, the billionaire owner of the Buffalo Bills, wasn’t always smooth when it came to tennis.
In a 2021 interview on the Bills Pod Squad podcast, Pegula candidly discussed her father’s influence on her career, admitting that they had clashed on the tennis court.
“Dad and I are like oil and water on the tennis court – it does not mix well,” Jessica said.
Despite this, she acknowledged his role in pushing her to succeed, saying, “He definitely always pushed me to do better. To work hard, always work hard, you can always outwork somebody. He’s very old school.”
While her father emphasized hard work, her mother, Kim Pegula, took a more nurturing approach, focusing on Pegula’s health and fitness.
“You were more off-court,” Jessica Pegula said of her mother’s role. “Like the diet, the recovery, the training, and stuff like that.”
This balanced support from both parents played a significant part in shaping Pegula’s career.
Why Jessica Pegula’s Parents Avoid Her Matches
Interestingly, despite their influence, Pegula‘s parents are rarely seen in the stands during her matches. Both Terry and Kim Pegula choose to watch from home because they get too nervous watching their daughter play live.
Jessica once explained, “He just tells me ‘good job.’ He enjoys watching from home. She never watched my matches because she got too nervous.”
As Pegula faces off against Aryna Sabalenka in the US Open final at Arthur Ashe Stadium, she’ll draw strength from the crowd and the support of fans, even if her parents are not physically present.
Pegula‘s path to success is a testament to her perseverance and the unique role her parents played in her rise to tennis stardom.
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