Jessica Pegula had a really strong year tennis-wise but she had a really tough year in her personal life with her mother's health issues.
Writing for the Player's Tribune, Pegula opened up about what had been going on with her mother and how she handled all of that. She revealed that her mother suffered a cardiac arrest last summer being saved by her sister performing CPR on the spot.
I texted my husband, Taylor, that the situation with my mom was weighing on me. When can we start talking about it? When can I tell her story, my story, my family’s story? Everyone just keeps asking me. I really need to get it off my chest.
Her mother Kim is the co-owner and president of the Buffalo Bills, an NFL team whose player suffered a cardiac arrest on the pitch not long ago. Pegula wore a number 3 to honour Hamlin who fortunately survived. She also wore it for her mother.
Going into the 2023 Australian Open, I decided to wear the number 3 patch to honor Damar Hamlin. Ironically, yes, I was ranked No. 3 in the world. However, it didn’t feel like it was just for him, it felt like it was for my mom as well.