Jessica Pegula says what she finds ‘incredible’ about American tennis as she explains what Coco Gauff and Madison Keys have done to help

Jessica Pegula Leads American Tennis Resurgence in 2025

Jessica Pegula has played a key role in the strong start to the 2025 season for American players on the WTA Tour. The world No. 4 clinched the ATX Open title last week, defeating fellow American McCartney Kessler in the final—an achievement that marked a historic moment in women’s tennis.

Pegula and Kessler’s final was the first all-American WTA title match in nearly eight years, underlining the depth of talent in U.S. women’s tennis. But they weren’t the only ones making history. Emma Navarro also secured her second WTA title with a dominant run in Merida, adding to the wave of American success.

This momentum builds on Madison Keys’ triumph at the Australian Open, which set the tone for what has been an outstanding season for American women on the tour.

Pegula on the Strength of American Tennis: “Our Depth is Incredible”

American women have been a dominant force in 2025, winning half of the WTA titles so far. This includes Amanda Anisimova’s breakthrough victory at the Qatar Open, the biggest title of her career. With 17 Americans ranked inside the WTA top 100, the country is setting new records.

Pegula has long been vocal in praising American tennis, and ahead of Indian Wells, she expanded on why she believes U.S. women are thriving.

“I mean, that’s a great question,” Pegula said in her pre-tournament press conference. “I don’t really know exactly why now, but I just think that our depth is pretty incredible. I think it has been, though, honestly, for a few years now.

“We’re just seeing more Americans in the top 10 and top 20, which is definitely a big change. Having Coco [Gauff] and Maddie [Keys] win Slams over the last couple of years is huge for women’s tennis in America. Maybe that’s inspiring some of the lower-ranked Americans or the younger generation.”

Pegula also emphasized the collective strength of American players, saying, “I’m happy to be part of that group. It’s nice to see that we don’t have to hold the fort down alone—we have a lot of help, which is great.”

Can an American End the Indian Wells Title Drought?

Despite their recent WTA success, American women haven’t won the Indian Wells title since 2001, when Serena Williams defeated Kim Clijsters. That victory marked the eighth American title in 12 years, but since then, only two American women have reached the final, with Williams finishing runner-up to Victoria Azarenka in 2016.

Pegula, Gauff, and Keys will all look to end that drought in 2025, but they face challenging paths to the title.

• Gauff, who struggled for form during the Middle Eastern swing, could meet a fellow Grand Slam champion in her opening match.
• If both advance, Gauff and Keys could clash in the quarter-finals.
• Pegula, in the opposite half, begins her campaign against Magda Linette, who recently defeated an American that Ons Jabeur has praised.

With their strong form in 2025, could Pegula, Gauff, or Keys reclaim the Indian Wells title for the U.S.?