Jessica Pegula (30) has supported Novak Djokovic’s (37) appeal for increased entertainment for viewers, asserting that tennis should be less “stuffy” and “pretentious.”
Djokovic mentioned after his victory in the third round at the Australian Open that tennis must be “more fun”.
He even proposed that dancers might be featured on the court during intermissions to attract a new 21st-century audience.
World number six Pegula concurred that the sport required some flair.
“This sport has always had a bit of a stuffy, pretentious nature,” she remarked following an unexpected loss to unseeded Olga Danilovic late on Friday.
“Ultimately, we’re entertainers, and I believe the sport benefits from having more character.”
Pegula is familiar with the lively nature of sports – her father owns the Buffalo Bills in the NFL, where a comprehensive entertainment experience during breaks or half-time enhances the fan experience.
However, the conservative realm of tennis has been slow to emulate the practices of other sports,
She also feels that social media has players monitoring their actions, cautious of appearing overly outrageous.
“In today’s world, it may be more challenging due to social media, as everything can haunt you later,” she stated, while encouraging players to be more relaxed.
“In the past, when social media didn’t exist, tennis had so much more character, likely because those moments didn’t follow you indefinitely.
“The more character, the better.”