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After triumphing over fellow American McCartney Kessler in the final of the ATX Open in Austin, Texas, Jessica Pegula showed her generosity and willingness to step in for her colleagues. Instead of leaving for Indian Wells right after her singles victory on Sunday, Pegula chose to wait an extra day and offered her fellow players a ride on her private jet.
With commercial flights to Indian Wells proving difficult to arrange, Pegula waited until Monday’s doubles final had concluded so that she could take Zhang Shuai, McCartney Kessler, Anna Blinkova, and Yuan Yue with her. In that doubles final, Blinkova and Yuan claimed the ATX Open title with a 3-6 6-1 10-4 win over Zhang and Kessler.
Zhang took to Instagram to express her gratitude, sharing how the players had struggled to find convenient flights, with some needing to depart from different cities or endure late-night layovers. The Chinese players shared a photo of Pegula’s private jet and praised the WTA world No. 4 for her generosity.
She highlighted Pegula’s selflessness, noting that despite winning her singles final on Sunday and having the option to leave immediately, Pegula chose to stay and offer a ride to those competing in the doubles final. Zhang emphasized that her post wasn’t about showcasing the private jet but rather expressing gratitude and sharing the kindness Pegula extended to her fellow players.
Blinkova and Yuan also shared Zhang’s message, thanking Pegula for her kindness. The 31-year-old Pegula, whose billionaire parents own the NFL’s Buffalo Bills and the NHL’s Buffalo Sabres, continues to earn respect not only for her hard work on the court but also for her generosity beyond it.
