Some try to downplay Jessica Pegula and Emma Navarro's success because of their families' wealth, but Serena Williams' former coach, Rennae Stubbs, does not believe this is fair.
Pegula and Navarro have enjoyed outstanding seasons on the WTA Tour. Navarro has been the most improved player alongside Jasmine Paolini, while Pegula had her best Grand Slam result at the US Open.
30-year-old Pegula surprised many by splitting with her longtime coach, David Witt, in the early stages of this year. She had substantially improved under Witt's guidance, but Pegula, who had lost in all six of her Grand Slam quarterfinals, felt it was necessary.
The current American No. 1 had a mostly frustrating year before the North American hardcourt season. Pegula was injured for much of the year, although she did manage to win the WTA-500 tournament in Berlin.
However, Pegula's fortunes changed after the Olympics. She retained her title at the Canadian Open after playing an outstanding final set to beat Amanda Anisimova before finishing as the runner-up to Aryna Sabalenka at the Cincinnati Open.
Pegula then reached her first US Open final, beating Iga Swiatek during her run in New York. Sabalenka beat her again in a high-quality final, but it was still a memorable fortnight for the American.
Before this year, Navarro was unknown to most of the tennis world. But she has changed that by making the US Open semifinal, Cincinnati Open semifinal, Wimbledon quarterfinal, and winning her maiden title in Hobart.
Despite both women's achievements, some dismiss their successes because they both have fathers who are billionaires. These fans claim that made their achievements inevitable, meaning they should not be celebrated.
Stubbs strongly disagrees with that view. On social media, she argued that being rich does not make one a better tennis player, but the amount of work one puts in on and off the court is the most important factor.
"Being rich doesn’t make u a better tennis player, because in the end, it’s about the work YOU PUT INTO IT!! And u could argue, why? Why put yourself thru all that when u don’t need the money. I have so much respect for them, because THEY HAVE EARNED IT! By working their a**es off."
The Australian went further by saying people who think money guarantees success do not have a clue. She compared Pegula and Navarro to Serena and Venus Williams, who did not have wealthy parents, saying Pegula and Navarro had not been helped in any way.
"Anyone who thinks because someone comes from money guarantees success, has no clue! Venus & Serena came from nothing but they worked theirs asses off to be great. Jess & Emma worked the same amount on court and off too. Were they better off, yes, does it help u WIN, NO!"
Some might think Stubbs is being slightly one-sided and that having substantial family resources helps young players get the best facilities and coaches to develop their games.
However, that does not diminish Pegula and Navarro's outstanding achievements. Becoming successful in tennis is impossible without much hard work, and it is impressive that they are willing to do that despite their privileged upbringing.
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