The world's richest tennis player refuses to share a hotel with colleagues at Wimbledon 2026

Wimbledon 2026, the year's third major, kicked off on June 29 in London, UK.

On the eve of Wimbledon 2026, Jessica Pegula continues to draw attention not only for her on-court performance but also for her unique preparation approach for the prestigious grass-court Grand Slam. The world No. 4 revealed that she deliberately avoids staying at the tournament's official hotel to limit contact with fellow WTA Tour competitors.

Pegula, daughter of billionaires Terry and Kim Pegula—who own assets worth billions of pounds and several professional sports teams in the US—has long been considered the wealthiest player in tennis. The American star has won 11 WTA singles titles and 7 doubles titles, reached the world's top three, and made the US Open final in 2024. Her best Wimbledon result is a quarterfinal appearance in 2023.

Discussing her tournament preparation, Pegula emphasized that choosing accommodations is crucial, especially as she enters her 30s.

"We're either on the practice court or in the hotel room. So where you stay becomes a huge part of life. When you're younger, you don't care much about it, but as you get older, a good hotel or even just a proper pillow can make a big difference.", Pegula said.

Last year, the American decided not to stay at the hotel designated for Wimbledon players. She explained that being around rivals and colleagues almost all day long puts her mind under constant stress.

"I realized I needed some distance from everyone. Not because they did anything wrong, but because we see each other from breakfast, practice courts, gym, locker rooms, physio areas, to hallways and elevators. That repeating cycle every week drains me mentally.", Pegula shared.

The 32-year-old believes many people underestimate the psychological pressure athletes face when living and competing in the same environment for months on end.

Although that unusual preparation didn't yield the desired outcome—Pegula was unexpectedly eliminated in the first round of Wimbledon 2025 by Eli Cocciaretto—she still believes it was the right choice for her.

Entering this year's Wimbledon, Pegula brings confidence after reaching the final of the WTA 500 Berlin Open. The American hopes to improve her results at the All England Club and for the first time go beyond the quarterfinal stage at the most prestigious grass-court Grand Slam.