Jessica Pegula’s camaraderie with her fellow players has long been a highlight for tennis fans, often producing light-hearted and memorable moments. The latest came when the American became the subject of playful jibes from “The Player’s Box” podcast co-hosts Madison Keys and Jennifer Brady, who reacted to a side-by-side image of Pegula sporting wired headphones, much like her father.
Now, days later, the world No. 6 has addressed those jokes on her Instagram story and cited the example of Cincinnati Bengals’ quarterback Joe Burrow.
Jessica Pegula Cites Joe Burrow’s Example Days After Witnessing Playful Jibes on Her Habit Identical to Her Father Terry’s
Behind Pegula’s rise in tennis stands one of the most prominent business stories in the sport. Her father, Terry Pegula, amassed his wealth after founding East Resources, an oil and natural gas company he later sold for billions. That financial success ultimately ushered him into top-tier sports ownership, including the Buffalo Bills of the NFL (National Football League) and the Buffalo Sabres of the NHL (National Hockey League).
During a recent episode of “The Player’s Box” podcast, Pegula’s co-hosts playfully pointed out the striking similarity she shares with her father, noting that both prefer wired earphones. The fact soon made waves online when they posted a side-by-side image of the father-daughter duo sporting the same style, captioned, “Like father, like daughter.”
The post also sparked playful reactions from Brady and Keys. Brady alluded to Pegula’s affluent family background with a witty Chinese word often used for Jessica, meaning “Big Rich.” Meanwhile, the 2025 Australian Open champion, Keys, added humor of her own, joking, “Terry knows about the brain melt,” in reference to the renewed buzz around wired earphones amid growing concerns over wireless earbuds and brain health.
Days after the exchange, the 31-year-old shared an Instagram post by Burrow featuring several pictures, including one where the young footballer sported a white fleece jacket, a black t-shirt, and, notably, wired earphones. She tagged the podcast’s official handle and added a lighthearted caption to her story.
“And you’re telling me wired headphones aren’t it?” she asked.
Pegula didn’t fail to impress on the tennis front, having a phenomenal 2025 season. She claimed three tour-level titles at the Bad Homburg Open, the Charleston Open, and the ATX Open in Austin. She earned a place at the WTA Finals in Riyadh, where she finished as a semifinalist. The American finished the year ranked world No. 6, compiling an impressive 53–23 win-loss record.