World No. 5 draws inspiration from Flavia Pennetta, the only woman to win maiden major after turning 30 in Open Era
Dubai — Jessica Pegula received an early birthday present in more ways than one.
The American’s commanding 6-2, 6-4 victory over Elina Svitolina in Saturday’s Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships final wasn’t just her third WTA 1000 title—it was a statement of intent from a player who refuses to let age define her ambitions.
As Pegula prepares to turn 32 on February 24, the world No. 5 finds inspiration in an unlikely tennis footnote: Flavia Pennetta remains the sole player in the Open Era to claim a maiden Grand Slam singles title after turning 30, achieving the feat at 33 during the 2015 US Open.
“Why not me?” Pegula seems to ask.
The daughter of billionaire Terry Pegula has long been one of the women’s tour’s most consistent performers, yet major silverware has frustratingly remained out of reach. Her runner-up finish at the 2024 US Open only intensified the longing.
“That’s the next step for me. I’ve come really close,” Pegula acknowledged. “But at the same time, I don’t feel like I want it to define my career. If I had to stop right now, I’d had an amazing career. No regrets.”
What makes Pegula’s trajectory remarkable is its unconventional timeline. She didn’t crack the world’s top 100 until age 25—practically ancient by modern tennis standards where teenage prodigies dominate headlines.
“I’ve proven you can do well at a later age,” she said. “I didn’t really break through until after 24, 25, which is late nowadays. I’ve proved a lot of people wrong. Proved to myself I’m a top athlete at this level.”
The Dubai triumph represents the most significant validation of the hard work Pegula has invested since last year. It’s also fuelled her determination to “keep proving people wrong” as she chases tennis’s ultimate prize.
Her recent form certainly supports the optimism. Pegula has strung together seven consecutive semifinal appearances across tournaments, including deep runs at both the US Open and Australian Open—consistency that suggests a major breakthrough may be imminent.
“I definitely don’t tie my identity to an elusive Slam,” she insisted. “But it’s always the last goal I’m really going after.”
With 10 career titles and a career-high ranking of No. 3 already secured, Pegula understands that victories like Dubai provide more than just ranking points.
“Winning titles like this helps me gain confidence and prove I’ve improved as a player,” she explained. “Hopefully, come the French Open, I can execute what’s needed to keep progressing deep and giving myself the best shot.”
For a player who waited until 25 to announce herself on tennis’s biggest stage, waiting a little longer for that maiden Grand Slam seems entirely fitting. After all, as Pegula herself believes: it’s never too late to chase your dreams.
