Jessica Pegula’s ‘kindness and generosity’ praised after private jet gesture
The singles and doubles finalists of ATX Open were set for a mad scramble from Texas to Indian Wells for their next tournament until Jessice Pegula stepped in and “offered everyone who were playing in the Sunday final to join her on private jet”.
Pegula defeated fellow American McCartney Kessler in the women’s singles final in Austin, winning 7–5, 6–2 to lift her seventh WTA Tour career singles title.
Kessler’s day wasn’t done as she and partner Zhang Shuai then faced Anna Blinkova and Yuan Yue in the doubles final and it was the latter duo who won the trophy as they sealed a 3–6, 6–1, [10–4] victory.
Instead of dashing off to California straight after her showpiece match against Kessler, Pegula stuck around for the doubles final and then made an incredible act of kindness.
The world No 4 offered to fly the other four finalists to Indian Wells on her private jet.
Pegula is one of the richest players in tennis, but not through her sponsorships or $17m in career prize money – although that does help – but through her billionaires parents Terry and Kim Pegula with their net worth estimated to be $7.5 billion.
WTA News
Emma Raducanu gets nightmare Indian Wells draw Coco Gauff and Madison Keys are on collision course
How many points will Aryna Sabalenka, Iga Swiatek, Coco Gauff, Emma Raducanu drop in March?
The duo own two massive sporting franchises in NFL side the Buffalo Bills and NHL outfit the Buffalo Sabres.
Zhang took to social media to thank the 31-year-old for her kind deed.
“The final day girls discuss how flight to IW, many different ways, some one leave from Austin / Houston/ Dallas, someone might need to transfer at LA in the middle night,” she started off.
“Because it is tough to get a flight after the doubles final. In the meantime, @jpegula offering everyone who were playing in the Sunday final to join her on private jet, you know she can leave right away after her singles final, but she is such a selfless and generous girl
“This message is NOT to show we took the jet, just wanted [to] prove, appreciate and transferring the love ❤️”
The exchange continued on Instagram as Pegula replied with “Shuai you’re too cute lol ❤️” to which Zhang wrote “@jpegula you are such incredible person ”
The players were facing a long trip to Indian Wells with several connected flights and China’s Yue added: “Otherwise, we would all have been on the road for at least nine hours.”
Blinkova also shared the post on her Instagram Story and wrote: “Thank you Jessie for kindness and generosity.”
And in a twist of fate, Kessler and Blinkova will face each other in the first round of the WTA 1000 Indian Wells Open on Wednesday and Yuan will face Dayana Yastremska.
Pegula will only be in action on Friday as she has a bye into the second round.
