Pegula Honored With 2023 WTA Jerry Diamond ACES Award For Promoting Women's Tennis
Jessica Pegula was crowned as the new Jerry Diamond ACES Award recipient for her valuable contribution to promoting women's tennis.
The ACES Award was incepted in 1995 in memory of former WTA CEO Jerry Diamond and has been won by the likes of Angelique Kerber, Elina Svitolina, and, most recently, Maria Sakkari. World No. 5 Pegula has now etched her name on that list.
According to WTAtennis.com, "This award is given to a player who showed consistent professional conduct and willingness to promote women’s tennis to fans, media, and local communities by taking part in off-court promotional and charitable activities."
Pegula, who is serving as a Top 20 representative in the WTA Players Council, is one of the most respected players on tour not just because of her consistency in match results but being an advocate of women's tennis and leveraging on her status as Top 10 player and her social media platform.
The 29-year-old has also not shied away from speaking out on contentious issues affecting WTA players on tour, ranging from tournament scheduling, pay inequity, frequent ball changes, and even the recent debate on the projected impact of women's tennis heading to Saudi Arabia.
Pegula has also taken part in some charity events this season, including the 2023 Stars of the Open, playing for Ukrainian relief efforts at the US Open, and also took part in the fourth annual tennis fundraising event in the Bahamas in December.
The WTA is recognizing the women who excelled in several categories in its annual prize-giving celebrations. Iga Swiatek won the 2023 WTA Player of the Year award for a second consecutive season.
Some of the other award winners include Russian prodigy Mirra Andreeva, who is the Newcomer of the Year; Elina Svitolnia, who is the Comeback Player of the Year; and Ons Jabeur, who scooped two awards this year.
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