Tennis star Jessica Pegula is having a phenomenal season so far. She has made long strides in her career, winning titles along the way. Pegula is currently one of the top players, shouldering the expectations of the American public. And she has not let them down yet.
Jessica has won a number of titles in her career to date, winning two WTA 1000 tournaments. The first time she won one had been at the Guadalajara Open last year. Pegula followed it up with another one this year at the Canadian Open. And now, Jessica has added another title to her, and in a place that holds a special place in her heart—the Korean Open in Seoul.
Pegula has made deep runs at tournaments throughout the year, and her consistency is paying off. She defeated Yue Yuan 6-2, 6-3 in the final. During the presentation ceremony, she opened up about being half-Korean as the crowd cheered loudly. “I’m half-Korean,” she declared proudly.
Jessica Pegula after winning title in Seoul:
“For those that don’t know, I’m half Korean.”
*Crowd cheers*
“I’m sorry I don’t speak. But I do like Korean bbq & kimchi. My mom is korean & she was adopted from here. It’s really special to be able to win here. Not a lot of people… pic.twitter.com/sLwUhj0Pg5
— The Tennis Letter (@TheTennisLetter) October 15, 2023
Jessica revealing her parentage has piqued the interest of tennis fans. Here we delve a little deeper into her life and take a closer look at her parents, her ethnicity, etc.
Who is Jessica Pegula and what is her ethnicity?
The world number four was born on February 24, 1994, to parents Terry and Kim Pegula. Jessica is well-known in the tennis world for her solid baseline game and powerful groundstrokes. Moreover, Jessica is very competitive and meets any challenge head-on, a trait that has reaped rewards.
Pegula started off her career in the sport by playing at various ITF and lower-level tournaments. Jessica won her first WTA title at the Citi Open in Washington in 2019. Since the title victory, Jessica has steadily risen to the top.
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As mentioned above, Jessica’s mother, Kim, is Korean. This makes Jessica half-Korean, with multiracial ethnicity, as her father is a white American. Jessica shares a lovely relationship with her mother and even dedicated her Canadian Open title to her.
The world number four has two other siblings, sister Kelly Pegula and brother Matthew Pegula. The Pegula family are followers of Christianity.
Who are Terry and Kim Pegula?
Terry Pegula is a billionaire businessman. He owns the Pegula Sports and Entertainment, which in turn makes him the owner of NHL team Buffalo Sabres and the NFL team Buffalo Bills. Kim Pegula on the other hand, is the CEO of Pegula Sports and Entertainment, and both the sports teams. She is also a part of the NFL’s Super Bowl committee.
Kim Pegula was born in Seoul, South Korea, in 1969. She was adopted and then brought to the US by Ralph and Marilyn Kerr on December 30, 1974. There were no records of Kim’s birth parents, or of her life before her adoption.
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Kim met Terry when she was working as a waitress. They started seeing each other, and eventually, Kim started working at Terry’s company. The couple got married and took their businesses to greater heights.
Terry earned his Bachelor of Science degree in Petroleum and Natural Gas Engineering from Penn State University in Pennsylvania. He started working for Getty Oil and Felmont Oil Co., but he established his own company soon enough. His net worth is believed to be around $6.70 billion.
Besides being one of the top tennis players, Jessica Pegula is also a successful businesswoman herself. Pegula manages her venture with her husband, Taylor Gahagen. With so many assets at her disposal, Jessica has earned the nickname, ‘The world’s richest tennis player,’ and she does not mind it.