Jessica Pegula enjoyed a lively week in Washington, DC, following her surprising second-round defeat at the Citi DC Open, where she had initially received a bye as the top seed. Despite the early departure, the American player found time for fun and relaxation, sharing moments from her Washington DC week that included hanging out with rapper Wale and celebrating with friends and family.
Coming off her recent victory at the Bad Homburg Open, Pegula faced back-to-back first-match losses at two consecutive tournaments, including Wimbledon. However, rather than dwell on the setbacks, the 31-year-old remained upbeat, spending quality time with loved ones including rapper Wale—whose net worth is estimated at $4 million—and fellow tennis player Frances Tiafoe.
On social media, Pegula posted a collection of photos featuring court action, practice sessions, and intimate gatherings with family, friends, and her dogs. She paired the pictures with Wale’s song “Lotus Flower Bomb,” stating:
“Just out here enjoying one of my fave work weeks seeing friends & fam in DC. The song – had to do it.”
During the Citi Open, Pegula was defeated by Leylah Fernandez in a tight three-set match, 3-6, 6-1, 5-7.
Jessica Pegula voices her thoughts on men’s match formats after Wimbledon
Earlier in the month, Pegula shared her opinion on the ongoing debate about the length of men’s tennis matches following her early Wimbledon loss. Speaking at a press conference, she expressed a preference for men to compete in best-of-three sets instead of the traditional best-of-five, citing personal difficulty staying engaged with longer matches.
“Would I want to play three out of five? No. I think I would rather the men play two out of three! I don’t think we all need to start playing three out of five,” Pegula said. “To me it’s just too long, and I personally lose interest watching the matches. I think they’re incredible matches and incredible physically and mentally, but I’m just like do we really need that?”
She further elaborated that winning a best-of-three match can be more challenging than a best-of-five, and suggested the shorter format might be physically beneficial for players.
“I think it’s harder to win two out of three than it is to win three out of five. Not physically, obviously, but I think it always is going to cater the better player in the long run if you’re playing three out of five,” Pegula added.
Looking ahead: Pegula’s upcoming competition in Toronto
After her Washington DC week, Jessica Pegula is preparing to return to the courts at the National Bank Open, also known as the Canadian Open, which will take place in Toronto starting July 29. This tournament offers her a fresh opportunity to build momentum following her recent early exits and continue pursuing her success on the WTA Tour.