Enough is enough": Pegula explodes and denounces the excesses of women's tennis
Outraged, Jessica Pegula is no longer mincing her words. In a column published after the end of the season, the 31-year-old player denounces a system that is running out of steam. For her, women's tennis cannot continue at this pace without collapsing.
"There comes a point where every player knows that enough is enough," Pegula said.
Following in the footsteps of Iga Świątek and Aryna Sabalenka, who recently wrote to the Grand Slam tournament organizers to demand better consideration for players' well-being, Pegula has joined the revolt. And her message is clear: women's tennis must reinvent itself to survive.
"Sometimes, it feels like we are reduced to mere resources to be exploited for revenue. But we are human beings, and there must be limits. Adapting the schedule is crucial. If we want sustainable careers, we need to rethink the system. The first way to improve player well-being is to consult them on the decisions that affect them. And today, we are still far from an agreement," she insists.
Thus, Pegula draws on concrete examples. Jack Draper, Taylor Fritz, and Holger Rune have all sounded the alarm this season, mentioning a pace that is "physically unsustainable." Rune, injured in the Achilles tendon in Stockholm, illustrates this worrying trend.
Finally, the American concludes her column on a personal note, mentioning her own limit: "A long career is impossible at this pace. I've often said I would stop when I become a mother.