Jessica Pegula, Frances Tiafoe happy to see diversity at US Open

[p][a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/pegula-jessica/KdojxrAR/"]Pegula[/a] said the ‌sport's global reach was one of its strengths, pointing to players from around the ‌world and the varied fan bases they attract.[/p][p][b]"I think the ‌best part of tennis is there is so much diversity,"[/b] Pegula told reporters ‌on Friday in Flushing Meadows ahead of the U.S. Open. [b]"Everybody ‌from around the world can play."[/b][/p][p]Pegula cited representation among Black players, as well as the growth of tennis in Asia due to players such as [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/eala-alexandra/ppu9X7PH/"]Alex Eala[/a] ‌of the [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/philippines/zuEKHR03/"]Philippines[/a] and [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/zheng-qinwen/xCyEhjAS/"]Qinwen Zheng[/a] of China.[/p][p][b]"You ⁠see talent from all over ‌the world. I think it's honestly one of the most diverse sports."[/b][/p][p]The New ​York setting of the U.S. Open shares that diversity, Pegula said.[/p][p][b]"You see a lot of different countries and fans and ​different types of people come out and support who they love to support,"[/b] she said.[/p][embed guid="8b140686-c648-43e0-ba3d-b42e01265169" url="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wHf5CoWAR9A" social-type="youtube" /][p][a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/tiafoe-frances/AHDLJaph/"]Tiafoe[/a] said representation in the women's game had been ⁠strong for years and ​pointed to an increasing number of players from a range of backgrounds competing near the top of the men's game.[/p][p]Tiafoe and [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/france/GUwWjllU/"]France[/a]'s [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/arthur-fils/IoIhUqIN/"]Arthur Fils[/a] made history at the Cincinnati Open last week when they became the ‌first Black players to face each other in an ATP 1000 tournament final.[/p][p][b]"That's never happened in tennis. That's a huge thing," [/b]Tiafoe said.[/p][p]Tiafoe stressed that access remained a major challenge in tennis.[/p][p][b]"USTA is doing great getting underserved community kids to play the game. Obviously, so many things cost, racquets, strings, coaching, shoes, whatever."[/b][/p][p]The USTA's 2026 U.S. Tennis Participation Report said 3.7 million Black Americans played tennis at least once in 2025, an increase of more than 450,000 players from the ‌previous year.[/p][p]The report also showed broader changes in the demographic profile of ​U.S. tennis players. Hispanic/Latino players accounted for 19% of participants ‌in 2025, up from 18% in 2024, while Asian/Pacific Islander players accounted for 11%, unchanged from the previous year.[/p][p]While he said the sport was progressing, Tiafoe cautioned that affordability could not be solved quickly.[/p][p][b]"Yeah, it's going the right direction,"[/b] he said. [b]"It's not something ⁠that's going to change overnight. ⁠Cost is cost, right? It's ‌got to come from somewhere."[/b][/p][embed guid="f3a72a94-1136-47e2-b836-8294a35df6cd" url="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F_IAV7YqFTI&pp=ygUORnJhbmNlcyBUaWFmb2U%3D" social-type="youtube" /]