“I don’t know if I’m going to be playing in five years”: Jessica Pegula opens up about her future after tennis

Friday, 17 July 2026 at 17:42

jessica pegula charleston open trophy 2026

Jessica Pegula has established herself as one of the most consistent players on the WTA Tour, but the American admitted she is unsure how much longer she will continue competing at the highest level, revealing that even a five-year horizon feels difficult to imagine.

The 32-year-old, currently ranked world No. 3, discussed her future, life after tennis and her changing role inside the locker room during a WTA interview, where she reflected on the challenges of a career built around constant travel and competition.

Pegula remains one of the biggest names in women’s tennis, having reached her first Grand Slam final at the 2024 US Open before losing to Aryna Sabalenka. More recently, she continued her strong form by reaching the Wimbledon quarter-finals, where she was defeated by Coco Gauff.

Her longevity has become increasingly notable in the current WTA landscape. Only three players aged 30 or older are currently ranked inside the Top 15, led by Pegula, while seven players aged 30 or above are inside the Top 30, including her close friend Madison Keys, who sits at No. 23.

Jessica Pegula admits she does not know how long she will continue playing

During the conversation, Pegula explained that professional tennis moves so quickly that players often struggle to look too far ahead. Despite still competing among the best in the world, she admitted that she prefers to evaluate her future season by season.

“Five years, wow, that seems like a long time. I don’t know if I’m going to be playing in maybe five. Five seems like a lot,” Pegula said. “I’d say year by year, how the body’s feeling, how the mind’s feeling. If I still feel like I’m excited to go practice and get better and compete and also travel too."

"We were just talking about such a big part of our lives. I think that’s a huge factor into how I’m going to be feeling over the next couple of years.”

Jessica Pegula reached the quarterfinals of Wimbledon 2016. It was the tenth time she had played in the quarterfinals of a Grand Slam tournament (3-7).

Pegula has already built a remarkable career after becoming a late bloomer compared to many of her WTA rivals. She reached her first major semifinal at the 2022 Australian Open and later became a consistent Grand Slam contender, eventually breaking through to a final at Flushing Meadows in 2024.

Her results have also remained strong in 2026. After another deep run at Wimbledon, Pegula continues to show that experience remains a major advantage in a sport where many players peak at a younger age.

“I was 28 when they called me a veteran”: Pegula on becoming the older player

Pegula also reflected on how her perception has changed throughout her career, revealing that she was surprised when she was first described as a veteran. “I was 28 when they called me a veteran the first time,” Pegula said. “You know who it was? It was Andrew Krasny. It was in Washington, D.C. You can give him crap for that.”

The American joked that she did not feel old at the time, but acknowledged that the arrival of younger generations has changed the dynamic inside the locker room. “I feel like the guys don’t mature as quickly,” Pegula said. “Sometimes when I’m talking to them, even all the American guys who are 26, 27 now, like Tommy and Fritz and Foe, I’m like, man, I still feel like you guys are 16 years old.”

Pegula’s position as one of the experienced leaders on Tour has also been reflected in her role beyond competition. The American has served on the WTA Player Council and has increasingly become one of the voices representing players.

Pegula’s interests beyond tennis: business, sports and charity

Away from the court, Pegula has developed several projects connected to her interests outside tennis. She launched her own skincare brand and has also dedicated time to charitable work through A Lending Paw, an organization she founded with her husband to support service dog training for people with disabilities.

“I think since I was younger, we had dogs as a family. And I think I just always had a passion for them because they always just made me feel loved unconditionally,” Pegula explained.

“As I got older, I was trying to find a way where I could kind of give to dogs, but also give to people. And so my husband and I started a charity called A Lending Paw, where we help service dogs get trained for people with disabilities.”

Read also

Pegula has also maintained a strong connection with other sports due to her family background. Her father, Terry Pegula, owns the Buffalo Bills and Buffalo Sabres, and the tennis star revealed that she once dreamed of becoming the first female general manager of an NHL team.

“Even when I was younger, before we had the sports teams, I always wanted to be the first female GM of a hockey team,” Pegula said. “I had no idea how that was going to happen because I did not play hockey. I was not involved in hockey. I watched and I was just a fan.”

Cristhián AvilaTennis Journalist

Cristhián Ávila is a tennis journalist based in Santiago, Chile, and has been part of the TennisUpToDate team since early 2023. He covers the ATP and WTA Tours as well as all four Grand Slams, producing breaking news, match reports, analysis, and regular liveblogs from major tournaments.

His reporting combines statistical analysis with clear explanation, helping readers understand tactical developments, player form, and broader storylines across the tour. Working fluently in both Spanish and English, Cristhián collaborates with an international editorial team and contributes to comprehensive global coverage. As part of his work, he has conducted interviews and media interactions with leading figures in the sport, including Caroline Wozniacki and John McEnroe.

In his journalism, Cristhián places strong emphasis on careful sourcing, editorial accuracy, and updating articles promptly when new, verified information becomes available. His coverage is grounded in research, context, and direct engagement with professional tennis.

See author's posts

claps 0visitors 0

"I don't want to hear any of that, nope this is a movement": Alexandra Eala backed by Andy Roddick amid criticisms of Eala Mania

LIVE Swiss Open Gstaad Day Five | Stefanos Tsitsipas and Arthur Rinderknech battle for semifinal spot as Shevchenko awaits winner