Jessica Pegula is gearing up to compete against Coco Gauff in an all-American final at the Wuhan Open this Sunday, following her victory over top-seeded Aryna Sabalenka in the semi-finals with a score of 2-6, 6-4, 7-6. Known as one of the wealthiest athletes globally, the 31-year-old has been affectionately dubbed ‘Dafu’ by her Chinese fans, which translates to ‘Big Rich’ in Mandarin.
During a conversation on the Player’s Box Podcast with fellow tennis stars Maddison Keys, Jennifer Brady, and Desirae Krawczyk, Pegula shared her thoughts on the nickname. She mentioned that while she initially requested a more modest nickname, her Chinese fans were straightforward and stuck with ‘Dafu’, which she now embraces.
Despite feeling a bit uneasy about the nickname, Pegula’s peers on the tour, including Australian Open champion Keys and Brady, playfully teased her about it. Pegula’s substantial wealth doesn’t solely stem from her success in tennis; her father, Terry Pegula, is a prominent figure in the business world, owning the NFL team Buffalo Bills and NHL franchise Buffalo Sabres, with an estimated family net worth of $7.5 billion (£5.9 billion), while Jessica’s personal net worth is believed to be $13 million (£10.2 million).
Having triumphed over several opponents including Hailey Baptiste, Ekaterina Alexandrova, Katerina Siniakova, and World No. 1 Sabalenka, Pegula has earned her place in the Wuhan Open final against Gauff, where she aims to secure her fourth singles title of the season.
If you want to stay updated on Mirror Football content, you can join our new WhatsApp community. We also provide exclusive offers, promotions, and advertisements from us and our partners. You can opt-out anytime if you wish. Feel free to check out our Privacy Notice for more information on how we handle your data.