American tennis star Jessica Pegula is making headlines not just for her impressive performances on the court, but also for her generosity off it. Following her victory at the 2025 ATX Open, where she claimed her seventh WTA title by defeating compatriot McCartney Kessler 7-5, 6-2, Pegula stepped up to assist her fellow players. After the tournament, she offered to take four other tennis stars on her private jet from Austin, Texas, directly to Riverside County, California, to avoid them facing arduous travel plans to the BNP Paribas Open at Indian Wells, which kicks off today, March 5, 2025.
It was more than just race against time—Pegula’s gesture saved her fellow competitors from what could have been over nine hours of travel and multiple transit points. With the players facing the prospect of late-night layovers or connecting flights through larger cities like Dallas and Houston, Pegula's offer came as a welcome relief. She chose to remain at the venue until the doubles final wrapped up, wherein Anna Blinkova and Yuan Yue triumphed over Kessler and Zhang Shuai with scores of 3-6, 6-1, and 10-4. After the doubles match concluded, the players quickly boarded Pegula’s jet and headed directly to their next tournament destination.
Zhang Shuai, one of the beneficiaries of the generous lift, expressed her gratitude on social media, stating, "You know she can leave away right after her singles final, but she is such a selfless and generous girl. This message is NOT to show I took the jet, just wanted to appreciate and transfer the love." She was not alone; both Blinkova and Yue shared their thanks, attesting to how Pegula’s generous act spared them from significant travel stress.
Pegula's philanthropy is notable, particularly considering the rarity of private jet travel among professional tennis players. Though she has accumulated considerable earnings herself—around $17 million from prize money over her career—her family's wealth is even more substantial; her father, Terry Pegula, is the billionaire owner of the NFL’s Buffalo Bills and the NHL’s Buffalo Sabres, with the family’s net worth estimated at about £7.7 billion.
The moment showcased the cordial relations maintained among the players, who on the court are fierce competitors but often band together off it. Moments like this underline the sense of community within the sport, particularly when players face logistical hurdles associated with their grueling schedules. This is not the first time Pegula has expressed kindness to her fellow competitors; her respectful demeanor and willingness to lend support have earned her admiration on the tour.
The BNP Paribas Open offers another opportunity for players to showcase their skills, and Pegula enters the tournament as the fourth seed, having earned herself a bye to the second round. Pegula is set to play against the winner of the match between Peyton Stearns and Magda Linette on Friday, March 7, 2025, time permitting after providing such extensive support to her fellow players.
This act of generosity from Pegula is particularly significant as it ensures her colleagues can arrive at Indian Wells with adequate preparation time. Competing at high-stakes tournaments often involves not just physical readiness but mental preparation as well, and Pegula's thoughtful gesture undoubtedly helped alleviate potential stress for her fellow athletes.
The players could have found themselves scrambling to find suitable flights or spending the night on the road after intense matches, leaving them ill-prepared for the challenges of the Indian Wells tournament. The kindness exhibited by Pegula might create ripple effects among the tennis community, encouraging other players to offer similar support when situations arise.
Such camaraderie resonates well with fans and observers of the sport, highlighting the character and values of players who are often seen merely as athletes. Pegula's actions have certainly raised her profile beyond her prowess on the court, fostering connections among her peers. The positive social media reactions from Zhang, Yue, and Blinkova (who shared Zhang’s message of thanks) reflected the uplifting nature of sportsmanship, a sentiment valuable to both the players and the sport as a whole.
Only time will tell how this type of camaraderie may evolve after this week’s tournament as players head to various destinations around the globe, but for now, the successful conclusion of the 2025 ATX Open serves as a heartening reminder of friendship surpassing competition.