Jessica Pegula Breaks Silence on “Insane and Delusional” Realities After Disheartening French Open Exit
Jessica Pegula Breaks Silence on “Insane and Delusional” Online Abuse After French Open 2025 Exit
Jessica Pegula, the world No. 3 and American tennis star, spoke out candidly about the “insane and delusional” realities of online abuse she faced following her shock fourth-round exit at the 2025 French Open on June 2. In a 3-6, 6-4, 6-4 loss to French wildcard Lois Boisson, ranked No. 361, Pegula was stunned in a two-hour, 40-minute battle on Court Philippe-Chatrier. The defeat, one of the biggest upsets in Roland Garros history, sparked a torrent of hateful messages from bettors, prompting Pegula to share her experience on Instagram Stories, as reported by the Daily Mail. “These bettors are insane and delusional,” she wrote, sharing screenshots of death threats and vile comments, including one wishing her first-born child be a stillbirth and another stating her deceased dog Tucker was “better off without this loser.”[]
Pegula emphasized the pervasive nature of the abuse, noting, “Every person on tour deals with it. It’s so bad. I get told my family should get cancer and die from people on here on a regular basis. Absolutely crazy.” She questioned why tennis seems uniquely plagued by such harassment, asking, “Does any other sport deal with this at our level? It’s so disturbing.” Despite disabling direct messages and limiting comments during tournaments, Pegula said the vitriol “always finds a way to my timeline.” She acknowledged that the abuse doesn’t deeply affect her personally but highlighted its severity, supported by fans on X like @jackiehaz, who expressed dismay at athletes enduring such treatment.
The 31-year-old, daughter of billionaire Buffalo Bills owner Terry Pegula, also reflected on her match, praising Boisson’s tactical shift to drop shots and heavy forehands that disrupted her rhythm. “I had a million chances, but it just didn’t go my way in those big moments,” she told reporters, per The Mirror US. Pegula earned €250,000 for her fourth-round finish but faced additional scrutiny over her loss, with one X commenter calling it a “long-awaited tennis lesson for deluded and cocky Pegula.” As she prepares for the grass season, Pegula’s outspoken stance calls for action against the toxic online culture in tennis.[]
