Jessica Pegula Shocks Tennis World: Inside the Billionaire Heiress’s Breakthrough Victory

American star Jessica Pegula arrives at Roland-Garros 2025 with fresh motivation, seeking a deep clay-court run after a mixed European spring. The World No. 3 opened the swing with a statement title on green clay at the Credit One Charleston Open, defeating Sofia Kenin in straight sets to become the new U.S. No. 1 and collect her second trophy of the season. Momentum stalled last week in Strasbourg, where Russia’s Anna Kalinskaya rallied past the top seed 4-6, 6-4, 6-2, exposing some rust in Pegula’s baseline patterns and raising questions about her endurance on red clay ahead of Paris. Pegula, however, brushed off the loss as necessary preparation time: “I got the court time I needed and learned a lot about my movement,” she said in her pre-tournament press conference. Opening test vs. teenage qualifier Pegula’s first-round opponent at the French Open is 19-year-old Romanian Anca Alexia Todoni, scheduled for Tuesday on Court Suzanne-Lenglen. U.S. viewers can stream the match on Peacock and Tennis Channel beginning at approximately 5 a.m. ET, while international fans can follow on Eurosport and the Roland-Garros app. Todoni, ranked No. 137, earned her main-draw spot through qualifying and owns a confident topspin forehand that plays well in slower Parisian conditions. Still, oddsmakers list Pegula as a heavy favorite, noting her 23-7 record in 2025 and top-three return-game statistics on tour. Keys to watch • First-serve percentage: Pegula won 78 % of first-serve points in Charleston but dipped to 62 % in Strasbourg. • Court positioning: Her backhand up the line can pin Todoni deep; she averaged 1.2 m inside the baseline during Madrid. • Physicality: Temperatures in Paris are forecast near 82 °F on Tuesday, an early endurance test before long second-week battles. Potential path in Paris If Pegula advances, she could face former quarterfinalist Petra Martić in round two and a possible fourth-round showdown with Olympic champion Belinda Bencic. Top seed Iga Świątek anchors the opposite half, meaning the earliest Pegula could meet the three-time champion is the final—an enticing storyline for American fans hungry for a Grand Slam singles title. The last U.S. woman to lift the Coupe Suzanne-Lenglen was Sofia Kenin in 2020. Off-court headlines The Buffalo Bills co-owner’s daughter continues to balance tennis with family business commitments; KPMG recently extended its multi-year sponsorship, highlighting her growing marketability. Pegula’s social-media following passed 1 million this month, and her Roland-Garros vlog series on YouTube provides behind-the-scenes content that has already generated 500 k views in 48 hours. SEO quick hits – Jessica Pegula French Open 2025 match time – How to watch Pegula vs Todoni live stream – Pegula ranking, stats, and draw at Roland-Garros – Charleston Open champion eyes first Grand Slam semifinal Bottom line Pegula’s path to a maiden Grand Slam title starts now. If she cleans up the unforced errors that cost her in Strasbourg and leans on the relentless consistency that powered her Charleston triumph, the American could turn a trending search term into a Parisian breakthrough.