The Miami Open final is here, and it’s shaping up to be a blockbuster. Aryna Sabalenka is searching for her first WTA 1000 title of the year after falling just short at the Australian Open and Indian Wells. On the other side, Jessica Pegula is looking to settle the score after Sabalenka defeated her in last year’s Cincinnati and US Open finals. This is the first Miami final between two Top 5 players since Serena Williams beat Li Na in 2014. Before they step onto the court, let’s dive into their fortunes off it.
Sabalenka’s 2024 season was a financial jackpot. She raked in $9.7 million in prize money and has an estimated net worth of $18.7 million, according to Forbes. Her endorsement game is just as strong—Nike, Wilson, Master & Dynamic, Whoop, Oakberry (her boyfriend’s company), and luxury watch maker Audemars Piguet are some of the brands backing her. These deals contribute $9 million to her earnings, making her the fifth highest-paid female athlete, per Sportico. Career-wise, she has pocketed over $32 million in prize money.
Pegula’s earnings are impressive in their own right. She has made over $16.5 million from tournament prizes and has an estimated net worth of $13 million as of March 2025, according to Forbes. Endorsements have added another $6 million to her wealth, with partnerships including Adidas, Yonex, Ready Nutrition, Dyson James Limited, and IBM. But unlike most players, the American tennis star’s financial security extends far beyond the tennis court—her father, Terrance Pegula, is an oil-and-gas billionaire worth $7.6 billion, according to Forbes. Her father founded East Resources, which he sold for $4.7 billion to the Royal Dutch Shell in 2010. The Pegula family owns the Buffalo Bills, which they purchased in 2014 for $1.4 billion. They have investments across sports, real estate, and entertainment.
Interesting Fact: Jessica Pegula isn’t the only billionaire heiress on the WTA Tour. American player Emma Navarro also comes from immense wealth, thanks to her father, Ben Navarro, the billionaire owner of Credit One Bank. Her father has a net worth of US$1.5 billion, according to Forbes. He owns the Charleston Open, where Emma made her WTA debut, and recently purchased the Cincinnati Open for around £240 million.
Coming back to the match on Saturday, March 29, Aryna Sabalenka and Jessica Pegula will face off in the final at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens. Sabalenka holds a 6-2 head-to-head record against Pegula and enters this final as the favorite. But Pegula is in excellent form and believes she can flip the script.
Jessica Pegula believes she “can win” against familiar foe Aryna Sabalenka
Jessica Pegula has had quite a formidable run this year. She kicked off her season with a bang after reaching the Adelaide International in January. In March, her dominant play resulted in her securing her first WTA title of 2025 at the Austin Open. She has also been strong in Miami, reaching her maiden final here. The World No.4 started with a win over Bernarda Pera, followed by victories over Anna Kalinskaya and Marta Kostyuk in the R32 and R16. In the quarterfinals, she ousted 2021 US Open champion Emma Raducanu and then put an end to 19-year-old Alexandra Eala’s brilliant run in the semifinals.
Ahead of the final, the 31-year-old spoke confidently about her chances at the post-match conference and said, “I think she’s just a little bit better than me, results-wise, winning Australia, winning US Open, beating me Cincy, US Open. It’s going to be tough. Hopefully I can get the better of her here. That would be awesome. But, you know, I’m also really proud that, you know, I can put myself up there with one of the best hard court players in the world. Making another final of a 1000 is huge.”
She added, “Just super excited to where I put myself at the beginning of the year, and I have always felt like I could win this tournament. I have always had really good results, always gone deep. You know, sometimes at tournaments you have that feeling, and this has always been one of them. I’m happy I’m able to give myself a chance on Saturday.”
This isn’t just about the trophy. The winner will be the first Top 10 player to claim a WTA 1000 title or higher this season. Sabalenka wants redemption after two runner-up finishes in 2024, while Pegula eyes her second title of the year.
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