Jessica Pegula is poised to compete against Coco Gauff in the final of the Wuhan Open on Sunday, following her victory over Aryna Sabalenka in the semifinals. Pegula, 31, known for her significant wealth, has been affectionately dubbed ‘Dafu’ by her Chinese fans, which translates to ‘Big Rich’ in Mandarin.
During an episode of the Player’s Box Podcast with fellow players Maddison Keys, Jennifer Brady, and Desirae Krawczyk, Pegula shared her feelings about her new nickname. She expressed gratitude for the nickname, describing it as a symbol of abundance, although she initially requested a more modest alias.
Despite Pegula’s slight discomfort with the nickname, her peers in the tour, including Australian Open champion Keys and Brady, playfully teased her about it. Keys humorously remarked that the nickname was a factual representation, urging Pegula to embrace it, while Brady jokingly referred to her as “Dafu large.”
Apart from her success in tennis, Pegula’s substantial wealth stems from her father, Terry Pegula, a prominent figure in the petroleum industry who owns the NFL team Buffalo Bills and NHL franchise Buffalo Sabres with his wife, Kim. The Pegula family’s net worth is estimated at a remarkable $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 several opponents, including Sabalenka, Pegula has advanced to the Wuhan Open final where she will compete against Gauff for her fourth singles title of the season.
