Jessica Pegula has shared her reasons for avoiding tournament hotels during competitions, explaining that the experience is mentally exhausting and can negatively impact her focus. The World No. 3 American tennis star emphasized how distancing herself from fellow players at prestigious events supports her performance.
Jessica Pegula’s Perspective on Avoiding Player Hotels
With 15 years on the WTA circuit, Jessica Pegula has steadily climbed the rankings and established herself as a leading competitor, especially after winning the ATX Open and Charleston Open in 2025 and reaching the Miami Open final. In a recent interview with Tennis.com, Pegula discussed how crucial her hotel choice is to her success, specifically her decision to stay away from athlete-concentrated hotels.
“Being away from everyone else is a massive thing for me. I think that’s what maybe sparked this, as well. I just felt like, ‘I can’t do [player hotels] anymore!’” —Jessica Pegula
She elaborated that constant proximity to competitors can be draining beyond the court. Pegula described the intensity of shared spaces in player hotels where athletes eat, train, and recover together, which makes it difficult to recharge mentally.
“When you’re staying at a tournament hotel, I feel like it’s so mentally draining. It’s not like anyone is a problem. But if you were going to work with someone, you wouldn’t necessarily want to eat breakfast with them, practice with them, be in the gym, have lunch, go to the locker room and the physio room with them, and then see them in all the elevators and the hallways.” —Jessica Pegula
“I don’t think people realize that shouldn’t happen, not with the people you’re working and competing with every single week. We play pretty much every week together, and so, all of that together, you’re ready to lose it.” —Jessica Pegula
Earlier this year, Pegula became an ambassador for World of Hyatt and has since preferred to stay at their luxury properties during tournaments, prioritizing her mental well-being and recovery environment.
Jessica Pegula’s Upcoming Match at Bad Homburg
On the court, Pegula is currently competing at the Bad Homburg Open in Germany, marking the start of her grass-court season after an earlier campaign. She exited the Berlin Open in the second round, losing to Liudmila Samsonova, unable to defend her previous title there.
Following that setback, Pegula rebounded with a strong performance at Bad Homburg, defeating Kateřina Siniaková 6-2, 6-3 in the round of 16. Her next challenge comes in the quarterfinals where she will face fellow American Emma Navarro.
The pair last faced off at the 2024 Miami Open, where Pegula secured a straight-sets victory, setting the tone for another competitive matchup ahead.
How Pegula’s Hotel Choices Reflect on Her Career
Jessica Pegula’s deliberate decision to avoid tournament hotels reveals a thoughtful approach to balancing competition demands with mental health. By minimizing constant exposure to rivals in shared environments, she creates space to focus and rejuvenate, which likely contributes to her recent successes on the WTA Tour.
Her partnership with World of Hyatt also exemplifies how professional athletes increasingly prioritize comfort and stability off the court to enhance their performance. As Pegula continues her season in Europe, observers will watch whether her strategies off the court help maintain her status among the top-ranked players worldwide.