(VIDEO) "Why not just live a high-class life?": Zheng Qinwen pokes fun at Jessica Pegula’s wealthy background

Qinwen Zheng recently joined Jessica Pegula and Desirae Krawczyk in Dubai for a playful social media segment on The Player’s Box. The session featured tasting different types of Dubai chocolates, with Pegula and Krawczyk filming reactions (this time without Madison Keys or Jennifer Brady, who were absent due to the tournament), while Zheng jumped in to joke with them.

The Player’s Box podcast has been gaining increasing interest among fans, with several guests joining the panel of American players over time. While Coco Gauff was the standout star during the off-season, this time Zheng joined in. Pegula and Krawczyk—having casually walked into the studio while filming a video tasting chocolates from Dubai—were already on set.

It was there that Krawczyk quickly invited Zheng to participate. She hesitated for a moment—‘not having makeup on’—but ultimately decided to join them. As the Americans tried to convince Zheng to try one of the chocolates alongside them, the 23-year-old from China gained confidence and began joking along with them.

The fun moment took a humorous turn when the conversation touched on Pegula’s career and wealth. Zheng couldn’t resist teasing her fellow player about questions often raised by Chinese fans. “In China, some people wonder why such a rich girl got into tennis. They say that because it's an extremely demanding sport. Like: 'Why not just live a high-society life?'”

The comment immediately sparked laughter among the hosts and viewers alike. Pegula responded with a smile, and the lighthearted exchange underscored Zheng’s knack for blending humor with genuine insight about fellow players. The segment showed that even elite athletes can relax, joke, and enjoy playful interactions off the court.

While Zheng was joking off court, Pegula was dominating on it. On Saturday, she defeated Elina Svitolina in straight sets to claim her fourth WTA 1000 title, maintaining her World No. 5 ranking and becoming the oldest champion in Dubai history. Pegula’s win highlighted her consistency and ability to balance competitive performance with off-court engagements like social media videos and playful segments.

For Zheng, Dubai was initially on her schedule, but she withdrew at the last minute due to illness. Earlier in the week, the 2024 Paris Olympic gold medalist had kicked off her 2026 season in Qatar Open Doha, her first tournament in four months (and second since June), following right elbow surgery. She defeated Sofia Kenin and Alycia Parks to reach the round of 16 before narrowly losing to Australian Open champion Elena Rybakina in three sets.

During her days in Doha, Zheng described the physical and mental challenges of returning from surgery. “When I was at the China Open, my elbow still didn’t have full extension or the flexion," mentioned the world No. 24. "At one moment, I thought my elbow would stay like this forever, that I would never be able to bend my right arm like I can bend my left. I was praying, I don’t know if it was to God or something else, but I just wanted my elbow to get back to normal. I don’t pray for winning matches. I just prayed for a normal elbow.”

Zheng’s candid and playful off-court presence, combined with her ongoing recovery, offered fans a reminder that tennis is not only about results but also about personalities and resilience. While Pegula was making history in Dubai, Zheng proved that humor and insight can also steal the spotlight.