Jessica Pegula, the World No. 3 and America’s top-ranked female tennis player, is entering the 2025 season with renewed determination to claim her first Grand Slam title, buoyed by sage advice from tennis legend Lindsay Davenport. The former World No. 1 and three-time major champion has been a vocal supporter of Pegula, offering pointed guidance on her prospects at Wimbledon and the US Open. “There is no reason why you cannot win Wimbledon or the US Open,” Davenport told Pegula, emphasizing that the 31-year-old’s game is tailor-made for the grass and hard courts of these prestigious tournaments. As Pegula prepares for a pivotal clay season at the Porsche Tennis Grand Prix in Stuttgart, Davenport’s words resonate, fueling her quest to break through at the sport’s biggest stages.
Pegula’s 2025 campaign has been nothing short of stellar. With titles in Charleston and Austin, she boasts a 25-6 win-loss record, trailing only Iga Swiatek and Aryna Sabalenka in the WTA rankings. Her recent 6-1, 6-1 rout of Magdalena Frech in Stuttgart’s second round underscores her form, setting up a quarterfinal clash with Ekaterina Alexandrova. Yet, despite her consistency—reaching seven major quarterfinals, including the 2024 US Open final—Pegula has yet to hoist a Grand Slam trophy. Davenport, who coached Pegula briefly and now serves as the U.S. Billie Jean King Cup captain, sees no barriers to her success on faster surfaces. “I love her game and how she hits her shots,” Davenport said, praising Pegula’s clean ball-striking and versatility, which echo her own playing style from the 1990s.
Davenport’s confidence stems from Pegula’s proven track record on grass and hard courts. At Wimbledon in 2023, Pegula reached the quarterfinals, only to falter against eventual champion Marketa Vondrousova despite holding a 4-1 lead in the third set. The US Open has been kinder, with Pegula reaching the final in 2024, where she fell to Sabalenka. “I hope she gets another chance of winning that major,” Davenport added, noting that Pegula’s flat, powerful groundstrokes and improved net play, honed through doubles success with Coco Gauff, suit the quick conditions of Wimbledon and Flushing Meadows. Pegula herself has reflected on her grass-court affinity, stating, “I’ve had really good results there, but I did have a heartbreaker,” referring to her Wimbledon loss. Her decision to compete at Queen’s Club, which will host a WTA event for the first time in over 50 years, signals her intent to sharpen her grass game before Wimbledon 2025.
While Davenport acknowledges that Roland Garros poses challenges for Pegula due to its slower clay, she remains optimistic about her prospects elsewhere. “Indoor clay is good for her,” Davenport noted, pointing to Pegula’s Charleston triumph as evidence of her adaptability. Pegula’s 2024 season, which included three WTA 1000 titles and a career-high ranking, showcased her ability to compete with the elite. Her upset of Swiatek at the 2024 US Open, one of three career wins over a World No. 1, proved she can topple giants. “I knew I could do it. I just had to go out and execute my game,” Pegula said after that victory, a mindset she’ll carry into 2025.
As part of a resurgent American contingent—alongside Gauff and Madison Keys, Pegula forms a trio in the WTA Top 6, a feat not achieved since 2004 when Davenport, Serena Williams, and Jennifer Capriati held those spots—Pegula’s leadership is evident. Her role in the 2025 Billie Jean King Cup qualifiers in Slovakia, under Davenport’s captaincy, further cements her status. With a favorable clay season ahead, where she defends fewer points than rivals, Pegula has a “free hit” to climb higher. Davenport’s advice to seize her moment at Wimbledon and the US Open could be the catalyst for Pegula to finally claim the Grand Slam glory that has eluded her, turning her consistency into tennis immortality.