“WHY DO YOU EVEN PLAY IF YOU’RE ALREADY RICH?” — JESSICA PEGULA’S CLASSY RESPONSE SILENCES DOUBTERS AND REDEFINES WHAT DRIVE REALLY MEANS!! When Qinwen Zheng revealed that some Chinese fans had asked why a “rich girl” like Jessica Pegula even bothers to compete, the question carried an edge that could have easily unsettled anyone else. Pegula, daughter of billionaire sports owner Terry Pegula and jokingly nicknamed “Da Fu” — the “big rich” — has long heard the whispers that her success must be cushioned by privilege. But instead of bristling, she responded with calm confidence, making it clear that money has never been her motivation. Ranked as high as world No. 3 in singles and No. 1 in doubles, a Grand Slam finalist, and now a 10-time WTA singles champion after her latest triumph in Dubai, Pegula has built a résumé that demands respect. Her presence on court is not about proving she needs the prize money — it’s about proving she belongs among the best in the world. In a sport where pressure is relentless and expectations never sleep, she continues to chase titles not because she has to, but because she wants to, because competition fuels her, and because passion cannot be bought or inherited. And in that quiet but powerful response, Pegula reminded everyone that ambition doesn’t disappear just because comfort exists — sometimes it burns even brighter