Tennis courts and controversies seem to go hand-in-hand these days, and the US Open was no exception. This year’s tournament was packed with drama, both on and off the court. Even though the final Grand Slam has wrapped up, the whirlwind of controversy continues, refusing to fade away. And the latest to step into the eye of the storm? None other than Canadian tennis star Eugenie Bouchard. She has found herself at the center of a heated debate, facing major backlash for her remarks on fellow player Jessica Pegula.

The American tennis sensation witnessed the US Open trophy slipping from her hands after a baffling final against Aryna Sabalenka, where she was defeated in straight sets 7-5, 7-5. This led to a lot of criticism from the tennis community who questioned her billionaire status and highlighted that despite having more resources than players who even fail to get basic amenities, Pegula failed to clinch a Grand Slam yet again. However, one user seemingly came out in support of the American star.

Taking to X, the user wrote, “I don’t get why Jessica Pegula gets hated because she is “the daughter of” and comes from a wealthy family. She seems like a down-to-earth and fun person and worked her a** off to climb in the rankings. Just like EVERY PLAYER. You can’t buy talent and work ethic.” Responding to that post, Canadian tennis beauty made an interesting comment, as she wrote, “Money can’t buy a US Open final.” Bouchard was probably trying to suggest that despite all the resources at her disposal, Pegula couldn’t have made it to a Grand Slam final without a lot of talent and hard work.

However, this tweet was taken out of proportion by many users, with the star player being criticized for the remarks. But Bouchard has finally broken her silence over the matter. Taking to her X once again, she clarified her stance. “Literally how? I’m complimenting her, she achieved a GS finals bc of hard work, dedication, etc. not bc of money. You can’t buy your way thru the us open draw. She’s amazing. Leaving this app 🙄,” she wrote. 

For the unversed, Pegula’s father is a billionaire businessman besides being a petroleum engineer. He also owns multiple sports teams, including the Buffalo Bills and Buffalo Sabres. Just this week, Forbes estimated his net worth to be around $7.7 billion, a majority of which has been amassed through his oil and gas business. This, however, is not the first time that Pegula’s success or upsets have been linked with her immense wealth and this seems to have troubled the star player herself in the past. 

When Jessica Pegula was forced to defend the criticism for her billionaire background

Jessica Pegula has emerged as one of the most iconic tennis players and has amassed immense success on the tennis courts. But despite the talent she possesses, she has received immense backlash for her wealthy status and is often forced to defend herself. She also tried to highlight that her life is not as luxurious as it has been pictured. 

In an interview, Pegula said, “It’s kind of annoying that people think I have a butler, that I get chauffeured around. I have a private limo, that I fly private everywhere….I’m definitely not like that,” per Express. “It’s a little annoying, but honestly, I just think it’s kind of funny because I don’t really even know anyone that lives like that. It’s outrageous,” Pegula added.

For now, it would be interesting to see if Eugenie Bouchard’s clarification will bring an end to the ongoing controversy and give her some relief.