After Jessica Pegula’s 2025 US Open semifinal loss to Aryna Sabalenka, most of her press conference focused on the match and her tournament run. The conversation changed when one reporter asked whether her family had arrived by yacht and anchored somewhere on Long Island.
Pegula said she believed they had, but she did not know where her parents were staying. The unusual exchange later resurfaced during her 2026 US Open run, drawing renewed attention to her family’s wealth and her father’s superyacht.
A semifinal loss ends a home run
Jessica Pegula entered the 2025 US Open semifinal seeking her first Grand Slam singles title. She faced world No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka in a rematch of the 2024 US Open final, which Sabalenka had won in straight sets.
Pegula took the opening set 6–4, but Sabalenka responded by winning the second set 6–3. The Belarusian then claimed the deciding set 6–4 to reach the championship match.
Sabalenka advanced to face American Amanda Anisimova in the 2025 final and defeated her 6–3, 7–6 (7–3) to retain the title.
The family yacht docks near Flushing
Terry Pegula’s yacht, Top Five II, was reported anchored in Manhasset Bay on Long Island during the 2025 US Open. Vessel-tracking records show that the yacht visited Manhasset Bay on August 31, September 2, and September 6, 2025. Reports described the location as roughly a 30-minute drive from Arthur Ashe Stadium, though travel time can vary with traffic.
Top Five II is a 61-meter superyacht reportedly named for Terry Pegula’s five children, including Jessica. Its presence attracted attention because of the family’s wealth and Terry Pegula’s controlling ownership of the Buffalo Bills and the Buffalo Sabers.
One reporter pivots away from tennis
Most of Pegula’s post-match press conference focused on her semifinal performance, Sabalenka’s play, Pegula’s tournament run, and the support she received from her family and the crowd.
The subject changed when one reporter asked whether Pegula’s family had arrived by yacht and anchored somewhere on Long Island. It was a brief exchange rather than a sustained series of questions, but its timing made it an unusual departure from the tennis discussion.
Pegula’s family wealth has periodically appeared in coverage of her career, sometimes prompting her to emphasize that her parents’ fortune should not be confused with her personal finances or professional accomplishments.
Pegula answers the yacht question
When one reporter asked whether her family had arrived by yacht and anchored somewhere on Long Island, Pegula said she believed they had but did not know where they were staying.
Pegula explained that she had not visited the yacht and generally saw her parents only after her matches. She added that she was unsure what they had been doing on the other tournament days.
Her response was brief and composed, and the press conference then returned to other subjects.
Meet the superyacht called Top Five II
Top Five II is a 61-meter motor yacht built by the Netherlands-based Royal Hakvoort Shipyard. The vessel was launched and delivered in 2021.
The yacht can accommodate up to 12 guests in 6 staterooms and 18 crew members. Its amenities include a cinema, swimming pool, outdoor kitchen and barbecue area, multiple lounges, and outdoor dining spaces.
Sinot Yacht Architecture & Design created both the exterior and interior design, while Diana Yacht Design provided the naval architecture. The yacht is reportedly named for Terry Pegula’s five children.
Terry Pegula built a sports empire
Terry Pegula made his fortune in oil and natural gas. In 1983, he founded East Resources with $7,500 borrowed from family and friends.
East Resources grew into a major natural gas company, and Pegula sold most of its assets to Royal Dutch Shell for $4.7 billion in 2010. He later invested heavily in professional sports, purchasing the Buffalo Sabres in 2011 and the Buffalo Bills in 2014.
Pegula remains the controlling owner of the Bills and owns the Sabres. As of September 2026, Forbes estimates his net worth at approximately $11.8 billion.
Jessica Pegula’s own tennis journey
Pegula reached her first Grand Slam final at the 2024 US Open before losing to Aryna Sabalenka. In 2025, she returned to the US Open semifinals but again lost to Sabalenka in three sets.
Pegula has dealt with injuries during her career and has established herself as a regular presence among the WTA’s top players. Beyond singles, she has also won doubles titles during her professional career.
Her playing style features hard, deep, and flat groundstrokes, early ball striking, and changes of direction. She has explained that she hits the ball hard, even though her flat technique can make her power less obvious to viewers.
Little-known fact: Beyond playing, Pegula was named a brand ambassador of KPMG, as the accounting giant expanded its sponsorship into women’s tennis, and she holds a seat on the WTA’s player council.
Fans react with mixed emotions
Online reactions quickly split between genuine sympathy for Pegula and pointed jokes about her family’s considerable wealth online today. Some fans defended her publicly, noting that she cannot control which questions reporters choose to ask her.
Others focused purely on the tennis itself, praising her fighting spirit throughout the entire demanding tournament run in New York City. Bills supporters scattered in the crowd added extra energy, blending football and tennis loyalty.
The yacht moment ultimately became a quirky footnote to an otherwise thrilling US Open semifinal showdown between two rivals. It highlighted how athlete families sometimes become storylines separate from the actual competition happening on the court.
TL;DR
- Jessica Pegula lost the 2025 US Open semifinal to Aryna Sabalenka in 3 sets.
- One reporter then asked whether her family had arrived by yacht and anchored somewhere on Long Island.
- Top Five II, reportedly valued at approximately $100 million, was anchored in Manhasset Bay during the tournament.
- Pegula said she believed the yacht was anchored nearby but did not know exactly where her parents were staying.
- Her father, Terry Pegula, is the controlling owner of the Buffalo Bills and owns the Buffalo Sabres.
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This article was made with AI assistance and human editing.
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