Tennis star Jessica Pegula putting family’s NFL, NHL experience to use in prize money fight

Talk of a boycott from top-ranked Aryna Sabalenka and Jannik Sinner has grabbed attention. But behind the scenes, it has been Jessica Pegula, the 2024 US Open runner-up, organising the top tennis players in their protest with the grand slams over the share of tournament revenues devoted to prize money.

It comes naturally to Pegula, who grew up in a household of sports managers: her parents own the NFL’s Buffalo Bills and the NHL’s Buffalo Sabres.

“I think it maybe does [come naturally] just because I feel like I’ve taken on a bit of a leadership role with it,” Pegula said.

Already this year, No 5-ranked Pegula was named to lead a new 13-person panel to suggest changes to the women’s tennis calendar, rankings points rules and the requirements about competing in certain events. Now she is taking on the prize money issue too.

“I’m not afraid to go up to any type of player and go like, ‘Hey, are you interested in this or not?’,” Pegula said. “Some players, they don’t care, sometimes they’re not worried about it. Sometimes they’re like, ‘Yeah, for sure, I’m 100 per cent in’. I’ve been reaching out to players on the men’s and women’s side.”

Sabalenka said last week the players should consider a boycott for a bigger slice of tournament revenue, while Sinner said there was a lack of respect.

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