Winning Seoul was a 'goal' in mom's honor, Jessica Pegula says

Jessica Pegula will always remember Seoul.

The world No. 4 captured her fourth career WTA singles title, and second this year, on Sunday in the South Korean capital with a 6-2, 6-3 victory over first-time finalist Yuan Yue of China.

But the trophy lift meant more than just another notch Pegula's tennis resume.

Pegula's mother, Kim, was born in South Korea before she was adopted by an American family at age 5. Pegula first played the tournament in 2019, but lost in the first round. After coming back four years later to win the title, Pegula took to social media to explain what the full-circle moment meant to her and her family.

"This one is extra special. I am half Korean," Pegula wrote on X, the platform formerly called Twitter. "I don’t speak [the language] and I am still learning about my culture ... but I have been overwhelmed by the support from Korean fans.

"It has been such an honor to play in front of you."

In addition to honoring her heritage, Pegula said that winning in Seoul was "a goal" for her in the aftermath of her mother's health struggles in the last year.

Kim Pegula, the co-owner and president of the Buffalo Bills and Sabres, went into cardiac arrest last summer, and the details of which were largely kept under wraps until Jessica Pegula penned a stirring essay in "The Players' Tribune" in February about the events that transpired.

Since, Kim Pegula has often been on her daughter's mind whenever she takes the court—Jessica Pegula dedicated a WTA 1000 win in Guadalajara last year to her—and she was close to her heart again over the last week.

"My mom visited her orphanage here when I played this event four years ago," she wrote. "It was the first time she felt open about learning about her past. Her health struggles the past year made this tournament a goal to win."

Pegula is the first American to win in Seoul since Venus Williams in 2007.