Jessica Pegula, the world No. 3 tennis star from Buffalo, New York, is riding a wave of confidence as she prepares for her opening match at the 2025 Porsche Tennis Grand Prix in Stuttgart. Fresh off a stellar start to the season, with titles at the ATX Open and Charleston Open, the 31-year-old American has solidified her place among the WTA’s elite. Yet, in a candid pre-tournament press conference, Pegula opened up about her journey, acknowledging the shadow cast by the towering Grand Slam achievements of rivals Aryna Sabalenka and Iga Swiatek. “Even though I might not have the biggest titles all the time, maybe compared to Aryna [Sabalenka], Iga [Swiatek], someone like that, I feel like consistency is a strength that I have,” she said, her words reflecting both humility and pride.
Pegula’s 2025 season has been a testament to that consistency. With finals appearances in Adelaide and Miami, and quarterfinals or better in six of her eight tournaments, she’s proven her ability to compete week in, week out. Her Charleston triumph on clay, where she outlasted tough competition, has boosted her confidence as she transitions to the European clay season. In Stuttgart, a WTA 500 event with a coveted Porsche car as part of the prize, Pegula faces either Sara Errani or Magdalena Frech in her opener, with a potential semifinal showdown against Swiatek looming. “I’m happy that I’m able to come in week after week and put up good results,” she added. “I think that is kind of a strength in itself in a different way. So I’m very proud of that, yeah.”
Since breaking into the top 10 in June 2022, Pegula has been a mainstay in the top 5, amassing three WTA 1000 titles and reaching the finals of the 2024 US Open and 2023 WTA Finals. Yet, the elusive Grand Slam title remains her white whale. Sabalenka, with three Grand Slams and eight WTA 1000 titles, and Swiatek, boasting five Grand Slams and ten WTA 1000 crowns, have set a high bar. Pegula’s US Open run, where she stunned Swiatek in the quarterfinals before falling to Sabalenka in a gritty 7-5, 7-5 final, showcased her potential to join their ranks. “I wish she would have at least let me get one set,” Pegula said of Sabalenka after the match, her wry humor masking the sting of defeat. “She’s super powerful and isn’t going to give you anything, she can take the racquet out of your hand.”
Pegula’s journey hasn’t been without self-doubt. Reflecting on her early career, she admitted, “I always believed in my game, but I was always scared, I never wanted to have a big result and not be able to have consistent results.” She recalled a pivotal moment after reaching her first Grand Slam quarterfinal in 2021: “I went to Doha, and I was in qualies. I was like, I don’t want to be that player that makes quarterfinals and then has kind of a breakout at your Slam, then loses in qualifying.” That fear of inconsistency drove her to refine her game, blending athleticism, a lethal backhand, and tactical acumen under coaches Mark Knowles and Mark Merklein.
The Stuttgart draw, featuring Sabalenka, Swiatek, and Coco Gauff, promises fierce battles. Pegula’s resilience, forged through years of near-misses—six Grand Slam quarterfinal losses before her 2024 US Open breakthrough—positions her as a dark horse. Her ability to upset top players, like her 6-2, 6-4 dismantling of Swiatek in New York, proves she can compete with the best. As she navigates the clay courts of Stuttgart, Pegula’s focus remains clear: keep knocking on the door of Grand Slam glory, trusting that her consistency will eventually unlock the ultimate prize.