Jessica Pegula stuns her friend Madison Keys: American sixth seed dethrones defending Australian Open champion with straight set victory; all about her life, career and net worth

Jessica Pegula stormed into the quarter-finals of the Australian Open 2026 for the fourth time after knocking out defending champion Madison Keys at the ⁠Australian Open on Monday (January 26, 2026). The American sixth seed secured a dominant straight-set victory, 6-3 6-4, at Melbourne Park for the fourth ‌time.





Pegula faced her close friend Keys, with whom she hosts "The Player's Box" podcast. She made a blistering start at Rod Laver Arena and only briefly let the momentum slip early in the match to ‌remain on ‍course for a first major ‍title. Neither player had dropped a set ‌in their opening three matches, and it was an aggressive Pegula who breezed to a 3-0 lead and then swapped breaks with Keys before taking the opening frame in ‍only 31 minutes.

Ninth seed Keys came out swinging in the second ‍set but ⁠was broken ⁠in the opening game, and the 31-year-old Pegula held firm in the face of mounting pressure to seal the win. Pegula will next face either American fourth seed Amanda Anisimova or Chinese dark horse Wang Xinyu.

Jessica Pegula: Early life, career, achievements and net worth

Jessica Pegula was introduced to tennis by her family at the age of seven and has since developed a strong personal connection to the sport, according to TeamUSA, the official website of the U.S. Olympic & Paralympic Committee. Pegula plays right-handed and turned professional in 2009. Born on February 24, 1994, she hails from Buffalo, New York. Pegula is currently ranked World No. 6 on the WTA Tour.

In the 2026 season, she has recorded a 3–1 singles win–loss record, with no singles or doubles titles so far this year. Across her career, Pegula has won nine singles titles and seven doubles titles, compiling an overall singles record of 490–272, according to ESPN.

She is a two-time Olympian, having represented the United States at both the Tokyo 2020 and Paris 2024 Olympic Games. At the Paris 2024 Games, she finished ninth in women’s doubles and 17th in women’s singles. Previously, at the Tokyo 2020 Olympics, Pegula placed fifth in women’s doubles and 33rd in women’s singles.

Her parents are Terrence and Kim Pegula, and she has four siblings. She has four siblings: brothers Michael and Matthew and sisters Laura and Kelly. Known by the nickname JP, Pegula cites the backhand down the line as her favourite shot. Her favourite tournament is the US Open. Her tennis idol growing up was Martina Hingis.

Beyond the court, Pegula has a keen interest in business and design. She owns her own skincare company, Ready 24, and also enjoys golf, sports and design in her spare time, according to the TeamUSA website.

Alongside her sister Kelly, she co-owns a health-focused café called The Healthy Scratch, reflecting their shared interest in wellness. She has a net worth of $20 million, according to Celebrity Net Worth.

Pegula’s family has strong ties to professional sport. Her parents purchased the Buffalo Bills in 2014 and have owned the Buffalo Sabres since 2010, with her mother Kim serving as the president of both organisations. Pegula is engaged to Taylor Gahagen, who works for the Pegulas’ sports management team. Together, they founded A Lending Paw, a charity that connects people with rescued and trained service animals.