“JESSICA PEGULA thrilled four fellow tennis stars as she took them along to their next tournament on her private jet. The American, 31, won the title in Austin last week by beating compatriot McCartney Kessler in the final. 3 Jessica Pegula was in action at the ATX Open Credit: AP 3 Pegula, 31, is among”, — write: www.thesun.co.uk
The American, 31, won the title in Austin last week by beating compatriot McCartney Kessler in the final.
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Jessica Pegula was in action at the ATX OpenCredit: AP
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Pegula, 31, is among the WTA Tour’s most popular playersCredit: GettyPegula is next due to play in Indian Wells and could have jetted to California immediately after her match.
Instead the world No.4 waited around to bring the four doubles finalists along with her.
Having lost in the singles, Kessler was in action alongside Zhang Shuai against Anna Blinkova and Yuan Yue.
It was two defeats out of two for the 25-year-old, with Blinkova and Yuan taking the final 10-4 in the match tiebreak.
Before heading to Indian Wells, Chinese star Yuan revealed that Pegula’s kind gesture had likely saved her a nine hour drive.
She wrote on social media: “Praise Miss Pegula. Okay!!! She has invited all the players in today’s game (doubles final) to take a private plane together. Thank you so much!!!
“Otherwise, we would all have been on the road for at least nine hours tomorrow. Oh my God, how can there be such a beautiful lady?”
Alongside a picture of the plane, Zhang, 36, added: “The final day girls discuss how flight to IW, many different ways, someone leave from Austin/ Houston/ Dallas, someone might need to transfer at LA in the middle night because it’s tough to get a flight after the doubles final.
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Zhang Shuai shared a picture of the private jetCredit: Instagram“In the meantime @jpegula offering everyone who playing at the Sunday final to join her private jet, you know she can leave away right after her singles final, but she is such a selfless and generous girl.
“This message is NOT to show I took the jet, just wanted to appreciate and transferring the love.”
Blinkova reposted Zhang’s message, adding: “Thank you Jessie for your kindness and generosity.”
While Pegula herself commented: “Shuai you’re too cute lol.”
The former U.S. Open finalist has been labelled the “world’s richest tennis player” due to her family’s incredible wealth.
Her father Terry, 73, owns the Buffalo Bills in the NFL and NHL franchise the Buffalo Sabres.
The family’s net worth is believed to be around £7.7bn, per Forbes.
As one of the top tennis players in the world, Jessica herself as earned approximately £13.5m in prize money alone.
Pegula enters Indian Wells as the fourth seed and has therefore received a bye through round one.
The popular star will open her campaign against the winner of Peyton Stearns and Magda Linette.
Ironically, Kessler has drawn Blinkova in the singles event – with the winner to play world No.1 Aryna Sabalenka in round two.
The doubles draw will be made on Wednesday.