Jessica Pegula Speaks Out on Chinese Fans After ‘Princess of Buffalo’ Gift at China Open

As the tennis tour powers through the Asian swing, weary players are finding new life at the Dongfeng Voyah Wuhan Open, fueled by the electric devotion of China’s famously passionate fans. From Beijing to Wuhan, the love is loud and lavish, plush toys, hand-painted banners, and fan art crafted with devotion rain down on players, even Western stars, leaving them grinning. “Honestly, it’s the place I’ve come [where] I’ve gotten the most gifts,” Coco Gauff said last year. “You can tell they really take time to give you the gifts and see what you like. They know I like stuffed animals, so I’ve gotten a lot of those.” Now, Jessica Pegula feels that same tidal wave of affection, with gifts echoing her Buffalo roots.

Just hours ago, Jessica Pegula turned her Instagram stories into a celebration of fan love, sharing a glimpse of the extraordinary gifts she received in China. In the first story, she posted a single image capturing three treasures: a photo of her holding a lollipop, perfectly mirroring her iconic post-match press conference moment from this year’s US Open, a letter paired with a novelty item styled like a Heineken but customized with a nod to “J. Pegula,” and a small key ring proudly featuring “The Players Box” podcast symbol, the new show she co-hosts with Madison Keys, Jennifer Brady, and Desire Krawczyk. Her caption? “The Chinese fans are unmatched @chinaopen.”

The next story took it up a notch. Pegula stood holding a beautifully crafted Chinese-style paper fan, adding a playful caption that read, “This means princess of buffalo in Chinese, also a gift 😂 amazing.” The cultural nod was subtle yet powerful, embracing her Buffalo roots in the most stylish way possible.

Then came the third story, where she revealed a capybara soft toy gifted by fans, adding with a laugh, “Another gift – apparently I am a capybara? bc I’m calm.” The mix of humor and heartfelt appreciation gave her followers a peek into just how creative and thoughtful her fanbase truly is.

And Pegula didn’t stop there. She jumped over to X (formerly Twitter), where she shared a fan post that brilliantly paired two images side by side, one from her US Open lollipop moment and the other of the gifted recreation. Quoting the fan’s message, “hope you like it :D,” Pegula added her own stamp of approval: “creativity 12 outta 10.”

This isn’t the first time Chinese fans have left Jessica Pegula speechless with their thoughtfulness. Flash back to the 2022 US Open, when Pegula, fresh off her quarterfinal loss to Iga Swiatek, walked into her press conference with a can of Heineken beer in hand. The bold move lit up social media, with Paula Badosa calling Pegula her “idol” and Ellen Perez labeling the moment “queen things.” It was a statement: raw, real, and unforgettable.

The story didn’t end there. A year later, fans in Beijing proved they hadn’t forgotten, showing up with Heineken cans and asking Pegula to sign them. The gesture reignited the viral moment and reminded everyone how a single beer became part of Pegula’s legend.

Even just days ago, while representing the United States at the Billie Jean King Cup, Pegula gave fans another heartwarming Instagram story. She revealed a precious keyring engraved with her beloved dog, Maddie, sent by a Chinese fan whose name she didn’t disclose. “The cutest little keychain of my dog Maddie fan from a Chinese fan,” she wrote, letting her followers feel the joy with her.

In another story, she showcased a jar filled with bracelets and mementos, proudly displaying her tradition of keeping fan gifts. “I also almost always save the little bracelets and gifts I get, so keep them coming,” she encouraged, proving that every token of love finds a place in her world.

Yet, while her ongoing Asian swing overflows with gifts, affection, and memories she will carry home, the results on court have been bittersweet. Pegula’s journey through this leg of the tour has been marked by heartbreak, reminding fans that even tennis’s princess of Buffalo has battles to fight beyond the fanfare.

Jessica Pegula frustrated after team loss at Billie Jean King Cup

The 2025 Billie Jean King Cup final delivered a dramatic showdown as Italy successfully defended their crown, edging out the United States in a fiercely contested encounter to secure back-to-back titles. For Team USA, the loss was a bitter pill, leaving several players visibly frustrated after coming up short in a fixture they had entered with high expectations and championship aspirations.

Italy drew first blood early in the final, with Elisabetta Cocciaretto toppling World No. 17 Emma Navarro in the opening singles rubber. The result immediately put the Americans on the back foot, leaving Jessica Pegula, the US No. 1 and World No. 7, with no margin for error. A win over Italy’s top-ranked Jasmine Paolini was crucial if the US hoped to force a decisive doubles showdown.

But Paolini rose to the occasion, dominating Pegula 6-4, 6-2 to seal Italy’s second consecutive Billie Jean King Cup victory. The triumph marked Paolini’s first win over Pegula in their last five meetings, ending the American’s streak of straight-set victories against the Italian and adding another challenging chapter to Pegula’s 2025 campaign, which had already included a painful US Open heartbreak.

“Today wasn’t our day,“ Pegula admitted after the match. “But we still have to be happy to have reached the final. The 4-4 game in the first set tipped the match in Jasmine’s favor, and she then played great tennis in the second set as well. I felt almost in control at the start, but then things didn’t go the way I hoped.” Her words captured the razor-thin margins that can define elite team events, where a single swing of momentum can shape the outcome.

As Pegula now transitions to the China Open, the pace of her schedule intensifies, with potential third-round matchups against formidable opponents like Emma Raducanu. After the disappointments of the US Open and Billie Jean King Cup, all eyes will be on her to see if she can channel her recent heartbreak into a solid, confidence-boosting performance in Wuhan, proving resilience can turn frustration into triumph.