Jessica Pegula, the American tennis star and world No. 4, has sent ripples through the tennis community with a candid revelation about her career’s endgame. At 31, the Buffalo-born player, who has solidified her status as one of the WTA’s most consistent performers, hinted that her time on the professional circuit may be winding down within the next two to three years. The announcement came during a lively discussion on the *Tennis Insider Club* podcast, hosted by fellow player Caroline Garcia and her husband, Borja Duran, as Pegula reflected on her future in the sport and her aspirations for the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics.
Pegula, whose career has been marked by a late-career surge, made it clear that she has no intention of emulating the longevity of tennis legends like Serena or Venus Williams. “I certainly won’t be playing at 35,” she declared, setting a definitive boundary for her professional tenure. Her comments suggest a retirement as early as 2028, with the Los Angeles Olympics looming as a potential capstone to her illustrious career. “I think it would be cool to try and compete in the Olympics, since they’ll be in Los Angeles,” she added, hinting at a personal goal to represent the United States on home soil before stepping away from the game.
This revelation comes at a pivotal moment for Pegula, who is currently competing at the Cincinnati Open, a key preparatory event for the upcoming US Open. Fresh off a straight-sets victory over Australia’s Kimberly Birrell (6-4, 6-3), Pegula is building momentum after a second-round exit at the Canadian Open. Her performance in Cincinnati, where she faces Magda Linette in the third round, underscores her ability to remain a formidable contender. Last year, Pegula blazed through the North American hardcourt season, winning the Toronto WTA 1000 title and reaching finals in Cincinnati and the US Open, where she fell to world No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka. “It’s exhausting,” Pegula said of the grueling summer circuit. “Not just the playing, but the commute, the day-in, the day-out, the press, like the days are so long.” Yet, her resilience shone through as she pushed herself to perform, noting, “I knew that it would help me in the future at a Slam, and that ended up happening.”
Pegula’s career trajectory is a testament to her perseverance. A late bloomer, she didn’t crack the top 100 until 2019, when she won her first WTA title at the Citi Open in Washington, D.C. Since then, she has amassed nine singles titles, including three WTA 1000 events, and reached a career-high ranking of No. 3 in October 2022. Her 2024 season was particularly remarkable, as she became the first woman since Serena Williams in 2013 to reach the finals of the Canadian Open, Cincinnati Open, and US Open in the same year. Despite a knee injury forcing her withdrawal from the 2024 WTA Finals, Pegula’s 2025 campaign has been strong, with titles in Charleston, Bad Homburg, and Austin, and a runner-up finish at the Miami Open. Her victory over Iga Swiatek in the Bad Homburg final, where she won 6-4, 7-5, showcased her ability to compete with the game’s elite. “I thought our final was a really high level,” she said of the match. “It was super close.”
Off the court, Pegula’s life is equally dynamic. As the daughter of Buffalo Bills and Sabres owners Terry and Kim Pegula, she balances her athletic career with entrepreneurial ventures, including her skincare line, Ready 24, and her charitable foundation, A Lending Paw. Married to Taylor Gahagen since 2021, Pegula has been open about her reluctance to juggle motherhood with her professional commitments. “I think when I have a kid, I’m done,” she said on the podcast, expressing admiration for players who return to the tour after starting a family but making it clear that path isn’t for her. “I definitely don’t wanna have kids and come back,” she emphasized.
As Pegula navigates the twilight of her career, her focus remains on maximizing her remaining time on the tour. Her comments about the 2028 Olympics suggest a clear goal, but she approaches her future with flexibility. “So yeah, I wouldn’t come back. So that’s kind of why I say like, ‘Okay, maybe at least a couple more years, two, three, we’ll see,’” she noted. For now, fans can expect to see Pegula’s signature flat groundstrokes and tactical prowess on display as she chases another deep run at the US Open, a tournament where she reached her first Grand Slam final in 2024. Whether she achieves her Olympic dream or not, Pegula’s legacy as a tenacious competitor and a trailblazer in American tennis is already secure.
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