The Excitement of a Double Header

Jessica Pegula, ranked No. 7 in the world, is gearing up for an exciting start to her 2025 Australian Open campaign.

She will face off against Australian newcomer Maya Joint in the first round of the tournament.

But as much as Pegula is focused on her tennis match, there’s another game on her mind — one that’s happening thousands of miles away in Orchard Park, New York.

A Game in New York That’s Just as Big

The Buffalo Bills, the NFL team owned by Pegula’s father, are set to play the Denver Broncos in the playoffs.

It’s a big game for the Bills, who finished the regular season strong, securing the second seed in the AFC Conference with a 13-4 record.

While Pegula is hopeful for a win, she’s also a little cautious about the outcome, given the unpredictable nature of playoff games.

“I think it’s on, what, like 5:00 AM here?

Probably won’t be up that early.

Maybe catch the second half of it,” she shared with a laugh.

A Grand Slam Mentality

Despite not being able to follow the game live,

Pegula expressed her optimism for the Bills’ chances, drawing a parallel between the playoff match and a Grand Slam tournament.

“You have your favorites, but anything can happen,” she said.

“It’s always a little nerve-wracking, but I’m hopeful they can pull through and stay healthy.”

In her eyes, both her tennis match and the Bills’ game share a similar level of tension.

“Playoffs are like a Grand Slam.

You never really know what’s going to happen, and anything can turn the tide.”

The Importance of Staying Healthy

A key part of Pegula’s hopes for both her match and the Bills’ game is avoiding injuries.

Just like in tennis, injuries can derail a season for NFL teams.

“If they do win, I hope there are no major injuries.

That’s huge for those teams, especially in the playoffs,” Pegula added.

For her, health is everything — both for herself and for her family’s team.

She’s hoping for a clean win with no setbacks for the Bills.

A Big Day Ahead

With both her tennis match against Maya Joint and the Buffalo Bills’ playoff game on the horizon,

it’s clear that Jessica Pegula has an exciting and stressful 24 hours ahead.

It’s not every day you juggle a Grand Slam debut with a major playoff game involving your family’s team.

But for Pegula, it’s all part of the ride.

Dave Marshall is covering the 2025 Australian Open exclusively for The South African website.

This article was published on TDPel Media. Thanks for reading!

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