Richest tennis player in the world drank beer to speed up US Open drug testing process

Jessica Pegula opted to drink a can of Heineken in order to speed up the drug testing process after getting bounced out of the US Open in 2022. It was then that the world No. 4 reached the quarter-finals of her home Grand Slam for the first time, where she faced off against Poland's Iga Swiatek.

Despite a valiant effort from the Buffalo-born Pegula, it was Swiatek who emerged victorious 6-3, 7-6 (4) as she eventually went on to win the ultimate prize at Flushing Meadows, besting Ons Jabeur in straight sets. Considered the world's richest tennis player thanks to her family's £5.5billion fortune, the 30-year-old has cultivated an impressive career in her own right.

After the end of her run in New York, Pegula did have a can of Heineken handy while answering questions from the media in her post-match press conference. She confirmed that she consumed the lager because she wanted to use the bathroom for her regular doping test.

After a reporter quipped: "I like the Heineken," the tennis star responded: "I'm trying to pee for doping," but did add: "Although it does help ease the loss!" After the back-and-forth about the Heineken, she wasn't afraid to admit her disappointment with what was a third exit at the quarter-final stage in Grand Slams that year.

"I wish I could have done it here at my home Slam, but I guess not," she said. "I wish I didn't have to play Iga every quarter-final or Ash Barty, who seem to be the two people who don't really lose that often. "I mean, I had a great year at the Slams. I know there's still some tournaments left. I'm a little deflated right now. I just wish it would have been different tonight."

While she has established herself as of the best tennis players in the world in recent years, much has been made of her family's wealth, with her parents, Terry and Kim Pegula, being the owners of the NHL's Buffalo Sabres and the NFL's Buffalo Bills. The pair also own the Rochester Americans in the AHL and the National Lacrosse League's Buffalo Bandits and Rochester Knighthawks.

Pegula Sports and Entertainment encompasses the franchises, and despite her privileged background, Pegula revealed to Vogue magazine that she's well aware of the critics who attribute her success in tennis to her family's financial status.

"I know what haters say, 'The only reason she's good is because she has money," she said. "But for the most part, I think people have found that it's an interesting story. It's made me think, 'Okay - I'm not going to hide from this.'" It was in New York last year when Pegula reached her first Grand Slam final but lost in straight sets to Aryna Sabalenka.