US Open 2026: Why fans called Jessica Pegula vs Emma Navarro clash 'richest match in tennis history'
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Jessica Pegula defeated Emma Navarro in the quarter-finals
The US Open 2026 quarter-final between American pair Jessica Pegula and Emma Navarro turned into one of the most talked-about matches of the tournament, and not just because of the tennis.
Pegula came back from a set down to beat her fellow American 3-6, 6-4, 6-3 on Tuesday night at Arthur Ashe Stadium, booking her spot in the semi-finals for the third straight year. She will now take on two-time defending champion Aryna Sabalenka of Belarus, a repeat of the 2024 final.
The match started more than an hour late because of Frances Tiafoe’s long five-set win over Alex Michelsen earlier in the day, and both players looked a bit rusty once they finally got going.
The opening set was messy, with both women trading breaks and hitting five double faults each. Navarro, seeded 26th, edged the set thanks to an extra break. Pegula settled down in the second set, levelling things with a strong forehand winner, before taking control in the decider with another crucial break.
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This was also Pegula’s 50th win of the season, making her the first player on the WTA Tour to reach the milestone in 2026. It was also her fifth consecutive win over Navarro, including a victory at the Cincinnati Open last month.
Why is it called the ‘richest match in tennis history’?
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The nickname comes down to who these two players are off the court. Pegula is the daughter of Terry Pegula, owner of the Buffalo Bills and Buffalo Sabres, whose estimated net worth, according to Forbes, is around $11.8 billion. His fortune traces back to the 2010 sale of his company, East Resources Inc., to Royal Dutch Shell for $4.7 billion.
Emma Navarro’s father, Ben Navarro, owns the Charleston and Cincinnati tennis tournaments through his firm Beemok, and also holds a significant minority stake in Credit One Bank. Forbes estimates his net worth at roughly $3.2 billion. Combined, the two families’ fortunes add up to around $15 billion, which is why the match-up earned the “Battle of the Billionaires” tag among fans and media.
With the win, Pegula moves one step closer to chasing her first Grand Slam title, while Navarro’s run through the tournament this year adds another strong result to her rise up the rankings over the past two seasons.
Who won the US Open quarterfinal between Jessica Pegula and Emma Navarro?
Jessica Pegula defeated Emma Navarro 3-6, 6-4, 6-3 at Arthur Ashe Stadium to reach the US Open semi-finals.
Who will Jessica Pegula face in the US Open semifinal?
Jessica Pegula will face two-time defending champion Aryna Sabalenka in the US Open semi-finals.
Why was the Jessica Pegula vs Emma Navarro match called the ‘Battle of the Billionaires’?
The match earned the nickname because Pegula and Navarro are daughters of prominent billionaire families, making their all-American quarterfinal one of the most unusual matchups of the tournament.
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