NEW YORK — Jessica Pegula’s decision to participate in an exhibition tennis match at Madison Square Garden marked a significant turning point in her career, though she was unaware of the impact it would have at the time.
The Buffalo-born athlete has always cherished competing in New York, but until recently, she hadn’t advanced past the quarterfinals in the U.S. Open, similar to her experiences in the other Grand Slam tournaments.
However, shortly after committing to The Garden Cup, Pegula made her way through to the finals at Flushing Meadows in September, ultimately falling to the current number one, Aryna Sabalenka.
This experience resurfaced nostalgic memories for her as she stepped onto the court this week. “Having achieved such a great result, coming back now feels even more special,” Pegula expressed.
This week, Pegula is set to face fellow American Emma Navarro, who reached the U.S. Open semifinals. Additionally, Carlos Alcaraz, a four-time Grand Slam champion, will compete against American Ben Shelton.
Alcaraz, resuming his play following a brief hiatus, mentioned he took about a week and a half off from tennis after representing Spain in the Davis Cup during Rafael Nadal’s farewell performance.
Similarly, Pegula had a longer rest period, needing to recuperate from a knee issue that had been bothering her after the WTA Finals held in Saudi Arabia in early November.
She took around three weeks away from the sport before gradually returning to practice about two weeks ago in preparation for her match on Wednesday.
Although she could have chosen to skip the exhibition for extra rest during the short offseason, Pegula was eager to seize the opportunity to play at Madison Square Garden.
“When they mentioned, ‘You get to play in MSG,’ I thought, ‘Wow, that’s amazing,’” Pegula commented.
“Honestly, if it weren’t for MSG, I might not have done it.
Playing in New York City at Christmastime is really special, especially against another American. There were many reasons I couldn’t resist the chance.”
As she entered the tournament, Pegula had faced a disappointing streak of six consecutive losses in Grand Slam quarterfinals.
Yet, a pivotal win against world number one Iga Swiatek propelled her forward, helping her secure her longest run in a major tournament over a successful summer stretch.
“It feels like I was just here,” Pegula reflected, noting the stress and excitement associated with her recent experiences in the city.
Her parents are owners of the NFL’s Buffalo Bills and NHL’s Buffalo Sabres, and even before reaching the finals, she felt the warmth of local support while competing in New York.
Attending a Rangers game this week, Pegula was struck by the excited cheers that accompanied highlights from her U.S. Open match, recognizing that this support had grown even more significant since her success.
“It’s incredibly enjoyable to play here, especially as an American,” Pegula shared.
“There are many Bills and Sabres fans who show up at the U.S. Open, whether they live in the area or travel here to see me play.
I always feel a connection to Western New York, but I consider myself a true New Yorker, too.”