Jessica Pegula is poised to compete against Coco Gauff in an all-American final at the Wuhan Open on Sunday, following her victory over top-ranked Aryna Sabalenka in the semi-finals with a score of 2-6, 6-4, 7-6. The 31-year-old, recognized as one of the wealthiest athletes worldwide, has been affectionately dubbed ‘Dafu’ by her Chinese fans, translating to ‘Big Rich’ in Mandarin.
During a conversation on the Player’s Box Podcast with fellow tour players Maddison Keys, Jennifer Brady, and Desirae Krawczyk, Pegula shared her thoughts on her new nickname. She expressed that the nickname, while not intended to be negative, conveys a sense of abundance, with her fans now commonly referring to her as ‘Dafu’.
Despite requesting a more modest nickname, Pegula humorously noted the straightforwardness of her Chinese fans in sticking with ‘Dafu’. She remarked on the variety of nicknames players have and speculated that her fans may derive them from amusing incidents or anecdotes.
While Pegula may feel a bit uneasy about her moniker, her colleagues on the tour didn’t miss the chance to playfully tease her about it. Australian Open champion Keys jokingly remarked, “She’s basically saying look, we’re just stating facts. Like live with it. Move on,” while Brady added, “Yeah. Oh, Dafu large. Large woman.”
Apart from her success in tennis, Pegula’s substantial wealth stems from her father, Terry Pegula, a prominent figure in the petroleum industry who owns the NFL team Buffalo Bills and the NHL franchise Buffalo Sabres, alongside his wife, Kim. The Pegula family boasts an estimated net worth of $7.5 billion (£5.9 billion), with Jessica’s personal net worth believed to be around $13 million (£10.2 million).
Having triumphed over Hailey Baptiste, Ekaterina Alexandrova, Katerina Siniakova, and World No. 1 Sabalenka, Pegula has secured her spot in the Wuhan Open final. She is aiming to clinch her fourth singles title of the season against Gauff.
Join our new WhatsApp community for daily Mirror Football updates and exclusive offers. You can also explore our Privacy Notice for more information on data usage and preferences.