Jessica Pegula has revealed a surprising childhood ambition. Long before she chose tennis, she had a dream that involved professional hockey. During a recent interview with former pro Andrea Petkovic, she discussed her life off the court and her exploration of different business ventures to see what might stick after her playing career ends; and it seems hockey could be one of them.
Jessica Pegula Opens Up to Andrea Petkovic About NHL Aspirations
In her recent WTA interview in partnership with Mercedes, the World No. 3 opened up about her personal life and her role on the WTA player board.
Petkovic asked whether Pegula was exploring different business ventures after retirement, and she candidly shared her lifelong passion for sports management.
“I love sports,” Pegula said. “Even when I was younger, before we had the sports teams, I always wanted to be the first female GM of a hockey team.”
The goal was an unusual one for a young girl who had no direct ties to the sport at the time. The American admitted she had no idea how she was going to make it happen, as she didn’t even play hockey growing up, but was just a massive fan of the game.
In a twist of fate, her parents eventually purchased the NHL’s Buffalo Sabres in 2011, alongside the NFL’s Buffalo Bills a few years later.
“And I had no idea how that was going to happen because I did not play hockey. I was not involved in hockey. I just watched and I was a fan. So, I didn’t know how that was going to happen. But now it’s funny, seeing my dad own the Buffalo Sabres,” she said.
While Pegula laughed off the idea that she is actively trying to take over the Sabres’ front office right now, adding, “Not saying I’m going to be the GM,” the 32-year-old admitted that sports executive roles are still on her bucket list.
Pegula consistently follows Sabres from across the globe, frequently celebrating their victories on social media. In April 2026, during the European clay-court swing, she tweeted about experiencing major “FOMO” (fear of missing out) during the Sabres’ thrilling Game 1 playoff win over the Boston Bruins, saying that “there is nothing better than playoff hockey”.
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On the tennis front, the American recently wrapped up a notable campaign at Wimbledon, where she reached her second career quarterfinal at the All England Club before falling to compatriot Coco Gauff in a three-set match.
Her deep run this year returned her to her career-high world ranking of No. 3. Pegula will look to carry that momentum at the National Bank Open in Toronto, a WTA 1000 event where she has won back-to-back titles in 2023 and 2024.
When Petkovic asked what the next five years look like for her tennis career, the 32-year-old made it clear she still has big milestones left to achieve on the tour. “We’ll see,” Pegula said with a smile. “I would love to play the LA Olympics.”
