Jessica Pegula is gearing up to compete against fellow American Coco Gauff in the final match of the Wuhan Open this Sunday. Pegula secured her spot in the final by defeating Aryna Sabalenka in a thrilling semi-final match with a score of 2-6, 6-4, 7-6. The 31-year-old athlete, known for her significant wealth, has been affectionately nicknamed ‘Dafu’ by her Chinese fans, which translates to ‘Big Rich’ in Mandarin.
During a recent episode of the Player’s Box Podcast, Pegula shared her thoughts on her newfound nickname, mentioning that it was given to her in a positive and affectionate manner by her fans. Despite her initial discomfort with the nickname, Pegula expressed appreciation for the sentiment behind it.
While Pegula may have mixed feelings about her nickname, her colleagues on the tour were quick to playfully tease her about it. Madison Keys humorously remarked that it was simply a statement of fact, while Jennifer Brady jokingly referred to Pegula as “Dafu large.”
Apart from her success in tennis, Pegula’s substantial wealth stems from her father, Terry Pegula, who is a prominent figure in the petroleum industry and also owns the NFL team Buffalo Bills and the NHL franchise Buffalo Sabres, alongside his wife, Kim. The Pegula family’s combined net worth is estimated at a staggering $7.5 billion (£5.9 billion), with Jessica Pegula herself believed to have a personal net worth of $13 million (£10.2 million).
Having triumphed over several opponents, including Hailey Baptiste, Ekaterina Alexandrova, Katerina Siniakova, and Aryna Sabalenka, Pegula is now poised to compete for her fourth singles title of the season against Gauff in the Wuhan Open final.