Meet tennis nepo baby Jessica Pegula, who’s competing for a grand slam title

Posted by author September 4, 2024 Tennis

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The US Open has not just one, but two American heiresses competing for their first career grand slam singles titles this year: Emma Navarro and Jessica Pegula.

Pegula, 30, is the daughter of billionaires Terry and Kim Pegula, owners of the NFL’s Buffalo Bills and the NHL’s Buffalo Sabres.

As the WTA’s No 6 player in the world, Pegula entered the tournament with valuable momentum coming off the heels of impressive runs at both the Canadian Open and Cincinnati Open, where she finished first and second, respectively.

As she looks to finally end her grand slam drought, here’s everything you need to know about Jessica Pegula.

Jessica Pegula was born in Buffalo, New York

Jessica Pegula, 30, is a Buffalo, New York native. Photo: @jpegula/Instagram

Pegula was born in Buffalo on February 24, 1994. She lived in Pennsylvania and South Carolina before moving to Boca Raton, Florida, in 2007, The Palm Beach Post reported.

There, she trained with Dave Rineberg – Serena and Venus Williams’ former hitting coach – while attending high school online before going to the University of Pittsburgh.

Rineberg told The Palm Beach Post in 2010 that the Williams sisters “had that same explosive power” as Pegula, and that’s what “really excited” him about her.

Her father has an estimated net worth of US$7.7 billion

Jessica Pegula with Buffalo Bills’ Dion Dawkins and Kaiir Elam. Photo: @jpegula/Instagram

Forbes reported that Terry Pegula founded the oil and gas company East Resources in 1983. He sold most of the company’s assets in 2010 to Royal Dutch Shell for US$4.7 billion.