Rennae Stubbs absolutely unloaded on the claims that Jessica Pegula and Emma Navarro’s wealthy background is to credit for their tennis success as the former five-time Grand Slam champion in doubles thinks it is just ridiculous to think that solely money could make you a successful player.
When this year’s US Open runner-up Pegula started to draw attention to herself around 2021, some started bringing up the fact that her father Terry – the owner of NFL’s Buffalo Bills and NHL’s Buffalo Sabres – was one of the wealthiest people in the United States.
While the 30-year-old has since established herself as one of the best and most consistent players on the WTA Tour, some still like to often mention her background. That was also the case during the American’s huge run at Flushing Meadows as some started throwing pretty wild theories about her – that she was extremely privileged, didn’t have to work for anything in her life, etc…
This year, 23-year-old Navarro is having a breakout season on the Tour and she is also establishing herself as one of the better players in the game. But when she started making a name for herself, some started digging up her background and mentioning that her father was a billionaire businessman.
At this past US Open, the American made her first Grand Slam semifinal and she also broke into the top-10 for the first time this week and she is now the world No. 8. Earlier this year, she became a WTA champion in Hobart and had several other deep runs, including the Wimbledon quarterfinal and the semifinal at the WTA 1000 event in Toronto.
Stubbs defends Pegula, Navarro
Stubbs, who worked with Serena Williams during the American’s farewell at the 2022 US Open, took to X to explain why the chatter that has been going around the two American stars is plan stupid.
“Being rich doesn’t make u a better tennis player, because in the end, it’s about the work YOU PUT INTO IT!! And u could argue, why? Why put yourself thru all that when u don’t need the money. I have so much respect for them, because THEY HAVE EARNED IT! By working their asses off,” Stubbs wrote.
“Anyone who thinks because someone comes from money guarantees success, has no clue! Venus & Serena came from nothing but they worked theirs asses off to be great. Jess & Emma worked the same amount on court and off too. Were they better off, yes, does it help u WIN, NO!
“So stop with the narratives out there that because they’re wealthy, they got there. That’s nonsense and i won’t hear it! I see what it takes to be that good in this tennis world and to win at this level and what they achieved is purely because of THEIR WORK ETHIC! Period!”
Pegula finds the talk ‘annoying’
During one of her interviews at Flushing Meadows, the top-ranked American female tennis player was asked to reveal the thing she finds the most annoying. And to no one’s surprise, she mentioned that she can’t believe the claims that people make about her life.
“I did some media thing the other day. They were, like, What’s the most annoying thing? It’s that people think I have a butler, that I get chauffeured around. I have a private limo, that I fly private everywhere. I’m definitely not like that. It’s a little annoying, but honestly I just think it’s kind of funny because I don’t really even know anyone that lives like that. It’s outrageous,” the 30-year-old American said.
A few days later, a fan post defending Pegula went viral.
“I don’t get why Jessica Pegula gets hated because she is ‘the daughter of’ and comes from a wealthy family. She seems like a down to earth and fun person and worked her ass off to climb in the rankings. Just like EVERY PLAYER. You can’t buy talent and work ethic,” a viral post on X read.
Eugenie Bouchard, the 2014 Wimbledon runner-up, reacted by sarcastically shading the American’s critics: “Money can’t buy a US Open final lol.”
But unfortunately for the Canadian, this post was misinterpreted by some and she was accused of taking a shot at the 2024 US Open finalist. Then, the former world No. 5 sent out another post in which she highlighted that she wasn’t calling out Pegula or anything like that but instead complimenting her.
“Literally how? I’m complimenting her, she achieved a GS finals bc of hard work, dedication, etc. not bc of money. You can’t buy your way thru the us open draw. She’s amazing. Leaving this app,” Bouchard wrote.
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