Jessica Pegula has opted out of playing doubles at the 2025 Australian Open, with her sights firmly set on securing her first major singles title. Currently ranked world No. 6, Pegula restructured her schedule last year, all in the pursuit of Grand Slam success.
At 30, Pegula is an accomplished doubles player, having previously teamed up with compatriot Coco Gauff. The duo reached No. 1 in the rankings and claimed five titles together. However, after a surprising second-round exit at the 2024 Olympics, both players reevaluated their focus on doubles.
In September, Pegula, daughter of billionaire sports mogul Terry Pegula, decided to skip the US Open doubles event, instead focusing solely on singles. That decision paid off, as she reached her first Grand Slam singles final in New York, her best major showing to date.
Previously, Pegula had revealed that she and Gauff had paused plans for a doubles reunion, as both players shifted their focus to singles. “For me, I’m not sure. I know Coco doesn’t really want to play right now, and we’re not thinking of playing together, so I’ll probably take it easy on doubles for the rest of the year,” Pegula shared during her run at the Canadian Open. “I’ll just play whenever I feel like it, and focus on singles.”
This strategic shift proved to be a game-changer for Pegula, who broke through to her first Grand Slam final just a month later. Now, as the new tennis season kicks off, Pegula has made a strong start by reaching the Adelaide International final. She is confident about her chances in Melbourne.
“I think the conditions here suit my game,” Pegula told Stan Sport. “The courts play medium fast, and the balls fly through the air, which works well with how I hit. I always feel comfortable playing here, and it’s a place where I consistently perform well.”
Before last year, Pegula had reached the quarterfinals at the Australian Open three consecutive times. On Monday, she comfortably advanced to the second round with a 6-3, 6-0 victory over Australia’s Maya Joint and will face Belgium’s Elise Mertens next.
