Pegula putting family experience in NFL and NHL to use in tennis prize money protest
Talk of a boycott from top-ranked Aryna Sabalenka and Jannik Sinner has grabbed attention.
Behind the scenes, it’s been Jessica Pegula, the 2024 US Open runner-up, organizing 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’s 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’s a lack of respect.
“At the end of the day the players are the ones that have the big voices,” Pegula said. “It’s been nice to see Aryna and Jannik kind of step out. I know a lot of other players feel the same way. But to have the two number 1s very outspoken about it, that’s kind of what it takes to get them to listen.”
Players’ share dropped in Paris whereas in the NFL and NHL athletes take home about 50 per cent of the revenues, at most tennis events the number isn’t even half of that. The upcoming French Open is allegedly devoting under 14.9 per cent to the players — down from 15.5 per cent in 2024, according to a players’ protest statement issued last week.
