Jessica Pegula is poised to compete against Coco Gauff in the final of the Wuhan Open on Sunday, following her victory over top-seeded Aryna Sabalenka in the semifinals. The 31-year-old, known for her significant wealth, has been affectionately dubbed ‘Dafu’ by her Chinese fans, which translates to ‘Big Rich’ in Mandarin.
In a recent episode of the Player’s Box Podcast, Pegula shared her thoughts on her new nickname, mentioning that while she initially found it amusing, she had jokingly requested a more modest nickname without success.
Despite Pegula’s slight unease with the nickname, her fellow tour players, including Australian Open champion Madison Keys and Jennifer Brady, playfully teased her about it. Keys remarked, “She’s basically saying, look, we’re just stating facts. Like live with it. Move on,” while Brady added, “Yeah. Oh, Dafu large. Large woman.”
Apart from her success in tennis, Pegula’s substantial fortune stems from her father, Terry Pegula, a prominent petroleum magnate who owns the NFL team Buffalo Bills and NHL franchise Buffalo Sabres, alongside his wife, Kim. The Pegula family’s combined net worth is an impressive $7.5 billion (£5.9 billion), with Jessica Pegula believed to have a personal net worth of $13 million (£10.2 million).
Having defeated several strong opponents, including World No. 1 Sabalenka, Pegula is now set to compete against Gauff for her fourth singles title of the season at the Wuhan Open final.
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