Featured Image Credit: UK Sports Pics Ltd / Alamy. Newscom / Alamy.
Topics: Tennis, Australia, Australian Open, NFL, US Sports, American Football
Jayden Collins
Topics: Tennis, Australia, Australian Open, NFL, US Sports, American Football
World number three Jessica Pegula opened her Australian Open campaign with a convincing win over Jacqueline Cristian.
She dispatched her opponent in under an hour in an extremely strong showing, following on from impressive form in the United Cup.
However, it was her actions after the game that will endear her to sports fans across the globe.
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She is the daughter of billionaire Terry Pegula, who owns the NFL side Buffalo Bills.
The Bills have had a tumultuous start to the year that saw their star safety Damar Hamlin suffer a cardiac arrest while on the field.
Hamlin is on his road to recovery after spending more than a week in the hospital before he was released last week.
Pegula used her platform at the Aus Open to send out a message of support to the 24-year-old.
Heading up to the camera, she wrote on the lens: “Go Bills #3.”
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Hamlin occupies the No.3 jersey on the team’s roster.
The Bills player collapsed during a January 2 game against the Bengals, following a tackle from wide receiver Tee Higgins.
The player had to be stretchered to hospital after dramatically crashing down on-field.
First responders rushed to the field as CPR was administered, essentially saving Hamlin’s life.
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The Bills player was in critical condition, however, as days went on his recovery continued to show increasingly positive signs.
He was released last week and went back home to Buffalo where he continues his recovery.
The Bills took on the Miami Dolphins in the NFL playoffs on Monday (January 16), and Pegula was asked whether she managed to catch any of the game.
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She told the media post-match: “I woke up around 7 am and got to basically watch most of the second half.
"The game finished before I started my warmup so I was out there watching.
"There weren't many people out here yet, but I was here watching.
"It wouldn't really have affected me [if they had lost], I don't think, but I would have been annoyed that they lost. "
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Pegula gets set to take on Aliaksandra Sasnovich in the second round of the Australian Open.
Meanwhile, the Buffalo Bills take on the Cincinnati Bengals in the NFL Divisional Round next week.