Jessica Pegula, the world No. 3 and the richest player in tennis, is gearing up for Wimbledon with a strategy that sets her apart from her rivals: she’s ditching the official tournament hotel. With a family fortune of £5.5 billion, thanks to her parents Terry and Kim Pegula, who own the NFL’s Buffalo Bills among other sports franchises, the American tennis star could afford any luxury. But for Pegula, it’s not about opulence—it’s about peace of mind and mental clarity, which she believes can “make or break” her performance at a Grand Slam.
Pegula, a US Open finalist in 2024 and a Wimbledon quarter-finalist in 2023, has carved her own path in tennis, amassing eight WTA singles titles and seven doubles titles. Now, as she aims to surpass her previous achievements at SW19, she’s banking on a secret weapon: solitude. By opting for a private hotel away from her fellow competitors, Pegula is prioritizing her mental space in a sport where every edge counts.
“For me, being away from everyone else is massive,” Pegula revealed. “Staying at a tournament hotel can be so mentally draining. You’re constantly surrounded by the same people you’re competing against. Imagine going to work and having breakfast, lunch, gym sessions, and physio appointments with your rivals, then bumping into them in elevators and hallways. It’s exhausting.”
Pegula’s decision reflects a shift in her priorities as she’s matured on the tour. “When you’re 20, you’re grinding, embracing the chaos of life on the road,” she explained. “But now, at 30, I need a better pillow, a quieter space. A good hotel has become non-negotiable—it’s such a big part of our lives when we’re either on the court or in our rooms.”
This isn’t the first time Pegula has embraced this strategy. At the French Open earlier this year, she stayed near the Champs-Élysées, far from the player hotel, though her run ended in the fourth round against rising star Lois Boisson. With Boisson out of Wimbledon after failing to secure a wildcard and falling in qualifying, Pegula faces one less obstacle. Still, her focus remains on controlling what she can—her environment.
“It’s not that anyone is a problem,” Pegula clarified. “But when you’re playing the same people week after week, you need boundaries. You wouldn’t want to live with your coworkers, so why should we share hotels with our competitors? I just can’t do it anymore.”
As Pegula prepares to take on Wimbledon’s grass courts, her rogue move to prioritize privacy could prove to be the key to unlocking her first Grand Slam title. In a sport where mental resilience is as critical as physical prowess, Pegula’s choice to carve out her own space might just give her the edge she needs to shine.