Jessica Pegula couldn’t be more thrilled that the Buffalo Sabres, owned by her billionaire parents Terry and Kim Pegula, have finally ended a 14-year wait by reaching the 2026 NHL playoffs. However, the team’s long-awaited success has also created a logistical nightmare for the world No. 5 with the European clay-court season approaching.
Jessica Pegula Faces ‘Brutal’ Reality of Sabres’ Playoff Run
Jessica Pegula has kicked off her clay-court season on a stellar note, beating Yuliia Starodubtseva 6-2, 6-2 in the Charleston Open final to clinch her second consecutive trophy at the WTA 500 event.
The American has also had reason to celebrate off the court, sharing her excitement about the Buffalo Sabres clinching a playoff berth thanks to the New York Rangers’ win over the Detroit Red Wings on Saturday, April 4. She said she expects the city to “go berserk” as fans gear up to experience NHL playoff hockey once again, adding that she’s thrilled to witness the moment.
“Yeah super excited for them. They it’s been a long 15 years so I’m so happy that they clinched. Yeah the the city is just going to go absolutely berserk like it’s wild, I can’t believe it. So it’s so exciting. We’re all super excited to watch some playoff hockey for the first time in Buffalo in a long time. So yeah, it’s been cool to watch,” Pegula told the Tennis Channel.
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Pegula revealed she won’t be in attendance to support the team in person, choosing instead to unwind at home in Florida before heading out for the European clay swing. She also lamented the “brutal” challenge of following the Sabres’ playoff run from Europe, with the time difference set to make late-night viewing unavoidable.
“I mean, I don’t even know when the playoffs start. It doesn’t start. Yeah I think six games to go yeah. Usually I’m in Europe and that sucks with the time change, which is going to be brutal with trying to keep up with them. But no, I’m just going to go back to Florida. Yeah, I’m going to rest up for a bit,” she added.
With Jessica Pegula not scheduled to compete at the Porsche Tennis Grand Prix in Stuttgart, she’ll be able to watch the NHL playoffs begin on April 18 from the comfort of her Florida home.
However, should the Buffalo Sabres make a deep run, she will likely find herself juggling her campaigns at the Madrid Open, the Italian Open, and the French Open while also supporting her family-owned franchise, as the Stanley Cup Final is slated to take place in June.
