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Jessica Pegula, ranked World No. 6, had a busy Monday. While preparing for her Australian Open debut, she woke up to a flood of messages about the Buffalo Bills' impressive playoff victory. The Bills, owned by her parents, dominated the Denver Broncos with a 31-7 win in the NFL’s Wild Card round, advancing to the Divisional Round for the fifth consecutive year.
Although Pegula was in Australia for the Grand Slam tournament and couldn’t watch the game live due to the time difference, she was quick to learn the Bills’ victory when she woke up. "I didn’t see one play until it was on in the gym when I was warming up. I got some updates from my family and texts," Pegula shared.
At the Australian Open, Pegula had a great start. The 30-year-old tennis star, seeded No. 7, defeated unseeded Australian Maya Joint 6-3, 6-0 in the first round. Pegula's strong performance in this match follows her recent runner-up finish at the Adelaide International, where she lost to Madison Keys in the final.
Pegula, who had a memorable run to the U.S. Open final in 2024, is looking to make a strong comeback after a second-round exit at the Australian Open last year. In the second round of the 2025 Australian Open, Pegula will face Elise Mertens from Belgium.
While Pegula’s victory was the highlight of the day for American tennis fans, the second day of the Australian Open saw other notable matches. World No. 2 Iga Swiatek, No. 3 Coco Gauff, and Naomi Osaka won their matches. Meanwhile, two-time Australian Open champion Victoria Azarenka and 2017 French Open winner Jelena Ostapenko suffered early exits.
The Australian Open continues to see top players battling it out, but Pegula is already proving her strength in the early rounds. Fans are hoping for another strong tournament performance from the talented Buffalonian, who is aiming for a major title in 2025.
Key Highlights:
- Jessica Pegula won her first-round match at the Australian Open 6-3, 6-0.
- Pegula’s family celebrated the Buffalo Bills’ playoff victory while she was preparing for the tournament.
- Pegula’s next opponent is Elise Mertens in the second round.
- Pegula had a runner-up finish at the Adelaide International before this match.
