Jessica Pegula posts funny message to social media before beginning her 2026 season

Therefore, she won’t play her first match of the year until Wednesday, January 7, when she takes on Anna Kalinskaya.

By that time, her fellow American Coco Gauff may have already played six matches in Perth…

Jessica Pegula jokes about watching everyone else play before her

On X, Pegula posted the following message alongside a GIF of someone lounging around watching TV.

“Me watching and judging everyone before I’ve yet to play a match in 2026,” she said.

Pegula last played a professional match 59 days ago, losing in the WTA Finals semifinals to the eventual champion Elena Rybakina.

She’ll play Kalinskaya in her first match back, but who else will Pegula need to beat en route to the title in Brisbane?

Jessica Pegula’s route to the Brisbane International title

If Pegula were to beat Kalinskaya, she’d advance to play either Leylah Fernandez or Dayana Yastremska in the third round.

Pegula leads the head-to-head with Fernandez 2-1, but lost her sole career meeting with Yastremska.

Moving into the quarterfinals, should Pegula get that far, she could play the likes of Clara Tauson or Liudmila Samsonova.

She’d be expected to win against both players, but would face a far tougher test in the semifinals.

Mirra Andreeva or Amanda Anisimova could meet her in the last four.

Anisimova was one of the best players in women’s tennis last year, reaching two Grand Slam finals and winning two WTA 1000 titles.

Things wouldn’t get any easier for Pegula in the final, with the top seed, Aryna Sabalenka, her most likely opponent.

Pegula and Sabalenka’s rivalry is one of the most entertaining on the WTA Tour.

They have played 12 times in total, with Sabalenka leading their head-to-head 9-3.

The American would undoubtedly love to turn the tide of their rivalry in 2026, and what better place to start than in the final of the Brisbane International.

She won’t want to get ahead of herself, though, and will first focus on playing Kalinskaya in the second round on Wednesday, January 7.