"People should shut the f**k up": Jimmy Connors denounces criticism of Jessica Pegula, Emma Navarro's billionaire status, attributes it to "jealousy"
Jimmy Connors has come to Jessica Pegula and Emma Navarro's defense, dismissing claims that their status as billionaire heiresses contributed to their success at the 2024 US Open. Pegula suffered a loss to Aryna Sabalenka in her maiden Grand Slam final at the New York Major, while Navarro was knocked out by Sabalenka in the semifinals.
Amid the American duo's strong campaigns at the US Open, the potential of an all-billionaire final gathered significant interest. However, it also prompted criticism, with some fans attributing Pegula and Navarro's success to their affluent backgrounds.
Jessica Pegula is the daughter of Terry and Kim Pegula, who own the NFL team Buffalo Bills and the NHL franchise Buffalo Sabres, with her father having an estimated net worth of $7.7 billion. Meanwhile, Emma Navarro's father Ben Navarro is worth $1.5 billion as the founder and chief executive of the Sherman Financial Group. He is also the owner of the Charleston Open and Cincinnati Open tennis tournaments.
On the latest episode of the Advantage Connors podcast, Jimmy Connors' son Brett addressed the social media discourse about whether the duo had an "unfair advantage" over their fellow players. However, the eight-time Grand Slam champion denounced the criticism, asserting that the pair had been "grinding" like every other player.
"I think people should shut the f**k up. It’s basically what I’m thinking. I mean, those kids (Jessica Pegula and Emma Navarro) are out there grinding just like everybody else. You can say about lessons and all that, but tennis if you’ve got a racket and a can of balls and a backboard, you can learn how to play tennis. These kids are out there doing their own thing, they have to win the matches," Connors said.
The former World No. 1 argued that despite their wealthy backgrounds providing access to elite training and tennis lessons, both Pegula and Navarro had to face Aryna Sabalenka and lose to the Belarusian on their own merit.
"Nobody’s giving them anything. Sabalenka gave them nothing. They weren’t going to earn it and win it on their own, it doesn’t matter how much training and how many lessons they had or what their mom and dad have done. It doesn’t matter, it’s all up to them," he said.
"But everybody’s got an opinion to worry about someone else’s life. I’ve got a new line, 'If you took care of your business as much as you’re trying to take care of mine, you’d be pretty well off,'" he added.
Connors also attributed the criticism to "jealousy" and emphasized that Jessica Pegula and Emma Navarro had simply taken advantage of their privilege, something that other people from similarly wealthy backgrounds had failed to do.
"I get it, it’s that old jealousy part that, ‘They’ve had this and they’ve had that.’ Well obviously they’ve taken advantage of it. Because I know some people that have had kids in the same position that didn’t take advantage of it," Connors said.
"Being rich doesn't make you a better player... Jessica Pegula and Emma Navarro have earned it by working their a**es off" - Rennae Stubbs
Serena Williams' former coach Rennae Stubbs recently echoed Jimmy Connors' sentiments, dismissing the "nonsense" narrative linking Jessica Pegula and Emma Navarro's success at the 2024 US Open to their financial status.
Stubbs asserted that Pegula and Navarro had "earned" their success as a product of their hard work, emphasizing her immense respect for the duo.
"Being rich doesn’t make u a better tennis player, because in the end, it’s about the work YOU PUT INTO IT!! And u could argue, why? Why put yourself thru all that when u don’t need the money. I have so much respect for them, because THEY HAVE EARNED IT! By working their a**es off," Stubbs posted.
Venus and Serena Williams' childhood coach Rick Macci also shared his support for Jessica Pegula and Emma Navarro, asserting that "the work ethic and right attitude go farther than the money you spend."