Jessica Pegula, the American star who was a finalist at the 2024 US Open, has voiced a wish for one change in how tennis handles spectator movement during matches. Pegula, 31, is the daughter of Terry and Bill Pegula, the owners of the NFL’s Buffalo Bills and the NHL’s Buffalo Sabres, and she has become one of the sport’s top American players in recent years.
In addition to her singles efforts, Pegula teamed with Jack Draper in the US Open doubles competition, where the pair advanced to the semifinals after a strong run that included a victory over Carlos Alcaraz and Emma Raducanu.
Pegula is the fourth seed in the women’s singles at the Open and was set to begin her campaign against Egyptian Mayer Sherif. She remains the second-ranked American player, trailing Coco Gauff, who fell to No. 3 after a summer with several surprising results.
Beyond her on-court deeds, Pegula spoke about crowd management and the tactile experience of watching tennis live. While she doesn’t object to crowds being present, she criticized the current restrictions that can force spectators to wait during long games and changeovers. “I hate when you’re standing outside and it’s two really long games and you have to wait for a changeover and you miss… I think that should change,” she said. Pegula suggested that fans should be allowed to leave and re-enter without missing a substantial portion of the action, arguing that, from a fan perspective, waiting can detract from the experience.
Pegula added that she isn’t inherently bothered by fans moving around the arena, unlike some players who prefer a quieter, more contained environment. “I’m not like that, so I would like to see that change because I think from a fan perspective to have to wait and miss, like, a huge part of the match, that’s not fun for a fan,” she explained.
Throughout her career, Pegula has reached the quarterfinals in seven Grand Slam events, though she hasn’t progressed beyond that stage in recent runs. Her grass-court season this year saw an early exit at Wimbledon, where she was defeated in the first round by unseeded Elisabetta Cocciaretto.
Looking ahead to potential showdowns in the 2025 US Open, Pegula could face a challenging path: a third-round clash with former world No. 1 Victoria Azarenka, a fourth-round meeting with Belinda Bencic, a quarterfinal against Mirra Andreeva, and a possible semifinal against Aryna Sabalenka. Whether she navigates that route will depend on form, fitness, and the evolving dynamics of the women’s tour.
Commentary and context:
– Pegula’s push for more flexible spectator movement taps into a broader conversation about balancing high-intensity competition with accessible, enjoyable viewing experiences at major events.
– If tournaments adopt more fan-friendly policies, it could influence stadium logistics, security planning, and ticketing strategies, potentially broadening appeal for casual fans as well as seasoned followers.
– Pegula’s remarks underscore her dual role as a top competitor and a proactive voice for the sport, both on and off the court.
Summary note:
Pegula remains a leading figure in American tennis, combining strong results with thoughtful input on how the game is experienced by fans. Her call for increased flexibility for spectators reflects a wider trend toward more engaging, accessible sports environments, and it could prompt future discussions among players, organizers, and venues about how best to balance competitive integrity with fan enjoyment. A hopeful takeaway is that such ideas, if tested thoughtfully, could make tennis more welcoming and enjoyable for a broader audience.