Jessica Pegula, the 31-year-old American world No. 7 and heir to a sports empire, continued her hard-court renaissance at the 2025 China Open with a clinical 6-4, 6-2 second-round demolition of compatriot Ajla Tomljanovic on September 26—her first win at the WTA 1000 event since 2022. The “Princess of Buffalo” extended her perfect 4-0 head-to-head over Tomljanovic, firing 28 winners and converting 3 of 5 break points in a 1-hour-15-minute masterclass that sets up a blockbuster third-round clash with Emma Raducanu on September 29. But beyond the baseline brilliance, Pegula’s post-match glow-up came off-court: Sharing heartfelt Instagram Stories of fan gifts, she made her feelings crystal clear on the Beijing faithful, calling them “unmatched” in a nod to their creativity and warmth that’s turning the Lotus Court into her adopted second home.
The Win: Pegula’s Precision Prevails Over Fellow American
Pegula, seeded No. 5 and fresh off a Billie Jean King Cup runner-up finish with Team USA in Shenzhen (a 2-3 loss to Italy on September 21), arrived in Beijing riding a wave of form: Three titles already in 2025 (Bad Homburg, Charleston, Austin) and a US Open semifinal heartbreak to Aryna Sabalenka. Against Tomljanovic (world No. 81, 21-21 record this year), Pegula dictated from the outset—breaking early in the first set with a forehand laser and holding serve at 82% efficiency. The Aussie mounted a brief fightback, but Pegula’s return game (42% break points converted) and unforced-error discipline (just 12) sealed a routine straight-sets victory.
“It’s always tough against Ajla—she’s got that fight,” Pegula said in her on-court interview, crediting her Doha quarterfinal prep for the edge. The win adds 110 points, inching her to No. 6 in live rankings (2,450 points) and keeping her WTA Finals hopes alive (top-8 race, trailing Coco Gauff by 300). Next? A rematch with Raducanu, whom she leads 2-1 (both prior wins on US hard courts: 2022 Guadalajara final, 2024 Miami QF). “Emma’s playing lights-out—gonna be a battle,” Pegula previewed, laughing off fan concerns about Raducanu’s Mandarin-fueled crowd sway.
The Fan Magic: Gifts, Giggles, and “Unmatched” Vibes
Pegula’s Beijing affection peaked off-court, where Chinese supporters showered her with bespoke treasures that went viral on her Stories. Hours after her Tomljanovic takedown, she posted a trio of gifts that captured her essence:
– A framed photo recreating her iconic 2025 US Open presser moment—sipping a lollipop instead of Heineken—complete with a heartfelt letter.
– A custom “Heineken” can rebranded as “J. Pegula,” poking fun at her beer-loving persona.
– A keyring emblazoned with “The Players Box,” her new podcast co-hosted with Madison Keys, Jennifer Brady, and Desiree Krawczyk.
Her caption? A simple, effusive “The Chinese fans are unmatched @chinaopen.” The post exploded, racking 200K+ views and flooding comments with hearts from locals and globals alike. Pegula amplified the love on X, reposting a fan edit juxtaposing her lollipop photo with the gift, adding laughing emojis.
This isn’t new—Pegula’s China bond dates to 2022, when she first raved about the “electric” crowds. A BJK Cup keyring of her dog Maddie (from an anonymous fan) now dangles from her bag, and her “Big Rich” nickname (vs. Emma Navarro’s “Second Rich”) still cracks her up: “I’m dying,” she laughed in a viral clip upon learning it pre-tournament. “They get me—the thoughtfulness is next-level,” she elaborated in a Tennis.com Q&A, contrasting it with edgier US crowds. As Raducanu charmed with her Mandarin interview (prompting X jabs like “We’re cooked, Jessie fans”), Pegula’s unfazed: “Crowd’s gonna love us both—it’s all good energy.”
Pegula’s 2025 Surge: From BJK Heartbreak to Beijing Bliss
This win caps a redemptive arc for Pegula: After Italy’s BJK Cup upset (her singles loss to Jasmine Paolini snapped a five-win streak vs. the Italian), Beijing feels like therapy. Her 2025 stats scream consistency—34-12 record, 68% hard-court win rate (her best surface)—with six hard titles overall. A deep run here (quarters: 215 points; semis: 390) could vault her to No. 5, edging Sabalenka in the Finals race.
X buzzed with “J-peg owning Beijing” memes, fans dubbing her the “Fan Queen of China.” As she eyes Raducanu—potentially a top-10 showdown under the lights—Pegula’s clear: The crowd’s unmatched love fuels her fire. For Buffalo’s billionaire baseliner, this isn’t just a win; it’s a worldwide hug. Go get that quarter, Jess. 🇨🇳🏆
