Jessica Pegula and Frances Tiafoe praise tennis’ progress in diversity

American tennis players Jessica Pegula and Frances Tiafoe praised the sport's progress in diversity, highlighting the increasing representation at the top of the game and the financial barriers faced by young players. Pegula emphasized tennis' global reach, citing players from various countries and the diverse fan bases they draw.

"I think the best part of tennis is there is so much diversity," she told reporters in Flushing Meadows ahead of the U.S. Open. She noted representation among Black players and the growth of the sport in Asia, citing players like Alex Eala of the Philippines and Zheng Qinwen of China. Pegula concluded that tennis is "one of the most diverse sports."

Tiafoe pointed out that women's tennis had been diverse for years, citing the growing number of players from different backgrounds competing at the top of the men's game. He and Arthur Fils of France made history at the Cincinnati Open by facing each other in an ATP 1000 tournament final, becoming the first Black players to do so.

Tiafoe highlighted the challenges his sport still faces, emphasizing that access remains a major issue. "USTA (the U.S. Tennis Association) is doing great getting underserved community kids to play the game," he said. "Obviously, so many things cost, rackets, strings, coaching, shoes, whatever."

The USTA's 2026 U.S. Tennis Participation Report showed a 450,000 increase in Black American players in 2025, with Hispanic/Latino players accounting for 19% and Asian/Pacific Islander players for 11% of participants. While Tiafoe acknowledged that the sport was moving in the right direction, he cautioned that affordability could not be solved quickly, stating that "it’s got to come from somewhere."