As the WTA season gathers momentum, tennis veteran Jessica Pegula is emerging as a serious contender for her first Grand Slam title — and one legendary coach believes her breakthrough is just around the corner. Rick Macci, the man behind the early careers of Serena and Venus Williams, Maria Sharapova, and Andy Roddick, has thrown his full support behind Pegula, declaring her the true force among American women’s tennis players.
Despite falling short in the Miami Open final against Aryna Sabalenka, Pegula’s consistent performances have kept her firmly in the mix at the top of the WTA rankings. The 31-year-old, who reached the US Open final in 2024, now trails fellow American Coco Gauff by just 267 points. While Gauff currently holds the American No. 1 spot at world No. 3, Pegula — ranked No. 4 — is closing in fast. Madison Keys, fresh off her Australian Open triumph, rounds out the top five.
Yet in Macci’s eyes, Pegula is already the de facto leader of the American charge.
“Age 31 the Buffalo Blaster is really the American Master ranked number 3 on the planet because her mind and strokes are like granite,” he posted on X.
“Has been ranked number 1 doubles and understanding of the court gives others troubles. Not where you start it is where you finish. @JessicaPEG.”
A Career That’s Gaining Steam, Not Slowing Down
While some players peak early, Pegula has taken a longer, steadier path — one that Macci believes will pay off with major silverware sooner rather than later. After six quarter-final exits at the Grand Slams, she finally broke that mental and tactical barrier by reaching her first major final in New York last year, only to once again be stopped by the power of Sabalenka.
Still, her upward trajectory remains undeniable. Since August, Pegula has reached three WTA 1000 finals — winning the Canadian Open, finishing runner-up in Cincinnati, and now making a strong run in Miami. These deep tournament runs, especially on the sport’s biggest stages, point to a player who is ready for the ultimate leap.
“Pegula has always been one of the best pure ball strikers on tour not to win a Slam,” Macci emphasized.
“She can beat anybody anytime anywhere. One of the most rock solid players off both wings. The Buffalo Blaster could grab a SLAM this year,” said Macci.
The Charleston Opportunity and the Rankings Race
This week presents yet another chance for Pegula to stake her claim as the top American woman on tour. At the Charleston Open — a 500-level clay-court event — Pegula has a golden opportunity to leapfrog Gauff in the rankings. A title there would hand her 500 valuable points, enough to potentially propel her to official American No. 1 status.
She already picked up a trophy earlier in the year at the ATX Open and was runner-up to Keys at the Adelaide International, adding to an increasingly impressive resume in 2025.
Results May Vary, But the Belief Remains
While her Miami campaign ended in disappointment, Pegula remains unfazed. The bigger picture, she says, is all about consistency — and putting herself in position to win.
“You know, happy to be in another big 1000 final and having consistent results and keep going deep in tournaments,” Pegula reflected after Miami.
“I mean, the reason we play is to put ourselves in good chances to win these events. I was able to do that the last couple weeks.
So even though it wasn’t the result that I wanted, again, giving myself an opportunity is all I can really ask for, you know, every time we go into a new event. So I’m happy about that.”
The Road Ahead: More Than Just a Dark Horse
At 31, Pegula might not fit the mold of the young phenom or overnight sensation — but what she brings is resilience, tactical intelligence, and an unwavering ability to out-hit, out-think, and outlast. Macci’s endorsement carries weight, especially for a player who’s long been underappreciated in a field full of big names and bigger expectations.
Whether or not 2025 becomes the year of the Slam for Pegula remains to be seen. But if her recent form and fighting spirit are anything to go by, it’s no longer a question of “if” — just “when.”