3 hours ago
5
Every athlete has their rituals and good luck charms. For tennis sensation Jessica Pegula, New York City is its own sort of talisman. Having been raised in Buffalo, Pegula considers the Arthur Ashe courts home. "New York is crazy about their sports teams, crazy about anything," Pegula tells Popsugar in a recent interview discussing her partnership with Vital Proteins.
It's a whole other experience to be embraced by the city, however. "Being from New York state, being an American, and now being you know one of the top Americans over the last couple years, we have so much fan support," Pegula says. "Not everyone gets to experience that. I think that has just always driven me to do really well there."
Not to mention, her parents own the Buffalo Bills, and when it comes to sports fans, they're arguably football's fiercest. "Buffalo is not known for being a tennis town. But you get so many sports fans there that come, and they're like, 'Well, you're from Buffalo and we're Bills fans, so we had to come to the US Open and watch you.'" In other words, there's almost always someone in the stands rooting for her.
When asked how she's been preparing for the tournament beginning on Aug. 23, Pegula says recovery has been crucial in this stage of her career. For that, she relies heavily on collagen, specifically Vital Proteins. The 18-time WTA title holder swears by it when it comes to joint mobility. When you're "running and pounding on a surface" for up to 11 months out of the year, being able to bounce back with minimal pain is crucial, Pegula says.
"With our tennis schedule, it's such a long year . . . we play so many weeks and you want to make sure that you feel your best every single week," she says. Pegula is heading to the US Open at the end of the month, hoping to clench the championship after coming extremely close in 2024 before Aryna Sabalenka took the title.
Though this year, Pegula may find herself up against an unexpected competitor, as the buzz around Serena Williams's return to tennis is inescapable. "It's just crazy that she's back," Pegula says. "I think it'll be interesting to see her back on the hard courts . . . I know she got a little injured during Wimbledon, so we'll kind of see physically [how she's recovered]. I think for her, it's all physically if she can manage things."
Regardless, Williams will have an impact on the tournament. Pegula says, "She just brings a different aura and a different set of eyes on her when she's around at these events and playing again — and I think it's great for tennis as well."
Alexis Jones is the section lead of the health and fitness verticals at Popsugar, overseeing coverage across the website, social media, and newsletters. In her seven-plus years of editorial experience, Alexis has developed passions for and expertise in mental health, women's health and fitness, racial and ethnic disparities in healthcare, and chronic conditions. Prior to joining PS, she was the senior editor at Health magazine. Her other bylines can be found at Women's Health, Prevention, Marie Claire, and more.
English (US) ·