Jessica Pegula, the world No. 3 tennis star, is grappling with profound grief following the sudden death of her beloved Labrador, Tucker, just days before the 2025 French Open, set to begin on May 25. In a heart-wrenching Instagram post on May 22, Pegula shared her devastation, writing, “My heart is filled with so much sadness. If someone were to ask me how the pups were doing back home, I’d burst into tears. We love you and miss you so much,” as reported by Motorcycle Sports. This loss comes less than two years after the passing of her German shepherd, Dexter, in July 2023, compounding her emotional turmoil. “Having both Dexter and Tucker gone now in such a short amount of time feels wrong in so many ways,” she added.
Pegula’s deep bond with her dogs has been a cornerstone of her life, often highlighted in her career milestones. After winning the 2023 Canadian Open, she dedicated the title to Dexter, saying, “This one’s for you Dex, thanks for looking out for me down here.” Her recent Charleston Open victory in April 2025 was marked by bringing her mini Australian shepherd, Maddie, on stage during the trophy ceremony, underscoring her pets’ significance. Pegula’s nonprofit, A Lending Paw, co-founded with her husband Taylor Gahagen, reflects her commitment to animal welfare, training rescue dogs as service animals.
The tragedy strikes as Pegula prepares for Roland Garros, where she’s seeded third after a stellar clay season, including titles at the ATX and Charleston Opens. Her resilience, tested by past setbacks like a 2024 US Open final loss to Aryna Sabalenka, where she admitted to nearly breaking down, will be crucial. “I was about to burst into tears because it was embarrassing,” she said of her 2024 semifinal comeback against Karolina Muchova, per Tennis Infinity. Fans on X, like @MSports_all, have expressed sympathy, noting her “heartbreak and resilience.” Despite the emotional weight, Pegula’s focus on the French Open remains, aiming to leverage her clay-court form to chase her first Grand Slam title.
