Jessica Pegula says what she finds ‘incredible’ about American tennis as she explains what Coco Gauff and Madison Keys have done to help

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Jessica Pegula has been part of a strong start to the 2025 season for American players on the WTA Tour.

Pegula won the ATX Open title last week, after beating compatriot McCartney Kessler in the final.

This was a monumental moment for women’s tennis, with Pegula and Kessler making history after achieving something that had not been done in nearly eight years.

Pegula was not the only American to win a title last week, with Emma Navarro making history of her own in Merida after a dominant run to her second WTA trophy.

This continues on from a very positive start to the season for American women, headlined by Madison Keys’ Australian Open triumph.

Jessica Pegula says what she finds incredible about American tennis

American women have dominated the 2025 WTA season so far, winning half of the available titles.

This includes Amanda Anisimova winning the Qatar Open in the biggest triumph of her career so far.

All of this success means that American women have made WTA ranking history already this year, and have a total of 17 women inside the top 100.

Pegula previously praised American tennis, and has now elaborated on this in her pre-tournament press conference at Indian Wells when asked why she thinks it is so strong at the moment.

The world number four also referenced both Keys and Coco Gauff winning Grand Slam titles as a potential inspiration for lower ranked American players.

“I mean, that’s a great question,” said Pegula. “I don’t really know exactly why now, but I just think that our depth is pretty incredible. I think it has been, though, honestly, for a few years now. I think we’re just seeing more Americans maybe in the top 10, obviously top 20, for sure. That’s definitely a big change.

“You know, having Coco and Maddie win Slams over the last couple of years as Americans is huge for women’s tennis or for women’s tennis in America. I don’t know if maybe that’s kind of inspiring to maybe some of the lower-ranked Americans to do really well or the younger generation.

“That’s just been really incredible. I’m happy to just kind of be a part of that group, to be a part of that group for the last couple years now, it’s been really cool. It’s nice to see, you know, we don’t have to hold the fort down by ourselves. We have a lot of help, which is nice.”

Could Jessica Pegula, Coco Gauff or Madison Keys make history at Indian Wells?

Despite American women enjoying success on the WTA Tour at the moment, they have not won the title at Indian Wells since 2001.

Serena Williams beat Kim Clijsters at Indian Wells that year, and at the time American women had won eight of the last 12 titles at the WTA 1000 tournament.

However, since then there have only been two different American finalists, with Williams the last player to reach the Indian Wells final before losing to Victoria Azarenka in 2016.

Pegula, Gauff and Keys can end this drought in 2025, but could face tricky runs if they are to do so.

After struggling for form during the Middle Eastern swing, Gauff could play a fellow Grand Slam champion in her first match at Indian Wells.

Further down the line, Gauff and Keys could go head-to-head if both players reach the quarter-finals.

While in the other half of the draw, Pegula will play Magda Linette, who beat an American that Ons Jabeur has praised.