Jessica Pegula’s coach combats common – Sports News
While some tennis followers take into account Jessica Pegula the “world’s richest tennis player” as a result of of her household ties, her coach says followers fully misunderstand what drives her, regardless of whether or not the optics typically inform a completely different story.
Pegula has quietly constructed one of essentially the most constant resumes on the WTA Tour because the No. 7 participant on this planet, however has confronted criticism for showing too calm on the court docket when matches flip in opposition to her. After shedding to Aryna Sabalenka within the semifinals of the U.S. Open, Pegula turned to comedy within the defeat by posting a selfie with a honey deuce drink with the caption, “When you lost 4 points on serve in the 3rd but you lost the match.”
Following her current loss, Pegula confronted criticism from followers who usually questioned her combat and claimed she lacked the fervour of her tennis rivals. Her longtime coach Mark Knowles disagreed, saying her calm demeanor hides the actual depth of her aggressive spirit.
“She’s a fiery competitor inside,” Knowles mentioned. “People always ask her to be more outward and outgoing on the court, but that’s not her personality. But inside, there’s a burning desire to achieve and compete.”
Knowles additionally defined how Pegula’s assist crew, together with coach Mark Merklein and fitness coach John Opfer, tries to keep a relaxed atmosphere whereas discovering the best stability of bringing out their intense sides “to get the best out of Jess.”
To Knowles, the skin chatter about her motivation misses the purpose.”She is who she is, and that’s why she’s been successful,” he mentioned.
“The idea that her background makes her soft or that her calmness means she doesn’t care is way off base. There’s more fire in her than people realize.”
Pegula has reached a number of Grand Slam quarterfinals and cracked the highest 5 within the rankings, however tennis followers cannot look past her mother and father’ possession of the Buffalo Bills, which followers recommend has handicapped her starvation to win. The criticism appeared after the 2023 U.S. Open, the place she misplaced a semifinal to Madison Keys regardless of main by a set.
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Pegula was criticized for trying passive, and critics known as her efficiency “lacking urgency.” While an outlet claimed she was in tears after the loss, she clarified this with a message assuring followers’ claims.
“I definitely wasn’t crying. I just got waxed in like an hour,” she mentioned. “I’ve got to go play doubles in an hour. I was like, Okay. Anyways.”
Pegula was the primary WTA participant this season to win titles on onerous courts (2025 ATX Open), grass (2025 Bad Homburg Open), and clay (2025 Charleston Open) in the identical season. She has develop into a mainstay of the second week of majors and holds wins over Iga Swiatek, Emma Navarro, Emma Raducanu, and Elina Svitolina this season.
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