Jessica Pegula is gearing up to compete against Coco Gauff in an all-American showdown at the Wuhan Open final on Sunday, following her hard-fought victory over top-seeded Aryna Sabalenka in the semi-final match. Pegula, a 31-year-old tennis star and one of the wealthiest athletes globally, has been affectionately dubbed ‘Dafu’ by her Chinese fans, which translates to ‘Big Rich’ in Mandarin.
During an appearance on the Player’s Box Podcast with fellow players Maddison Keys, Jennifer Brady, and Desirae Krawczyk, Pegula shared her thoughts on her newfound nickname. She expressed that while she initially requested a more modest nickname, her Chinese fans were straightforward and insisted on calling her ‘Dafu’.
Despite any discomfort Pegula may feel about the nickname, her tour companions were quick to playfully tease her about it. Australian Open champion Keys humorously remarked, “She’s basically saying look, we’re just stating facts. Like live with it. Move on,” with Brady adding, “Yeah. Oh, Dafu large. Large woman.”
Pegula’s substantial wealth does not solely stem from her successes in tennis. Her father, Terry Pegula, a prominent petroleum tycoon, owns the NFL team Buffalo Bills and 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 Pegula believed to possess a personal net worth of $13 million (£10.2 million).
Having triumphed over opponents like Hailey Baptiste, Ekaterina Alexandrova, Katerina Siniakova, and World No. 1 Sabalenka, Pegula has secured her spot in the Wuhan Open final against Gauff. She is aiming for her fourth singles title of the season in the upcoming match.