Jessica Pegula is gearing up to compete against Coco Gauff in the finals of the Wuhan Open on Sunday. Pegula secured her spot in the final by defeating Aryna Sabalenka in a thrilling match with a score of 2-6, 6-4, 7-6. The 31-year-old athlete, renowned for her wealth, has been affectionately nicknamed ‘Dafu’ by her Chinese fans, which translates to ‘Big Rich’ in Mandarin.
During an episode of the Player’s Box Podcast, Pegula shared her thoughts on the unique moniker, expressing that while she initially found it amusing, she later requested a more modest nickname without success. Pegula’s tour colleagues, including Maddison Keys, Jennifer Brady, and Desirae Krawczyk, playfully teased her about the nickname, with Keys jokingly stating, “She’s basically saying look, we’re just stating facts. Like live with it. Move on.”
Apart from her success in tennis, Pegula’s substantial fortune stems from her father, Terry Pegula, a prominent petroleum magnate who owns the NFL team Buffalo Bills and NHL franchise Buffalo Sabres with his wife, Kim. The Pegula family’s estimated net worth is an impressive $7.5 billion (£5.9 billion), while Jessica Pegula is believed to possess a personal net worth of $13 million (£10.2 million).
Having triumphed over opponents like Hailey Baptiste, Ekaterina Alexandrova, Katerina Siniakova, and World No. 1 Sabalenka, Pegula is now aiming for her fourth singles title of the season as she faces Gauff in the Wuhan Open final.