In a surprising twist from the world of professional tennis, multi-millionaire player Jessica Pegula has expressed her astonishment at fellow athlete Jelena Ostapenko's unique side business. The Latvian star, a former Grand Slam champion, has been selling her unwanted personal items on Instagram for as little as £4.
From Champion to Entrepreneur
Jelena Ostapenko, who famously won the French Open in 2017 by defeating Simona Halep, has turned to social media to clear out her clutter. Despite amassing over £14 million in career prize money, plus additional income from sponsorships, the 28-year-old is actively selling a range of items on her Instagram account, @j.o.clothes1997.
Her virtual marketplace features everything from a high-end Dyson vacuum cleaner to storage boxes and perfume samples, with prices starting at just £4. This entrepreneurial venture has not gone unnoticed by her peers on the WTA tour.
Pegula's Cheeky Shoutout
The story came to light when Jessica Pegula, one of tennis's wealthiest players, discussed it on the Player's Box Podcast. Pegula, whose family owns a vast empire including the Buffalo Bills, was both impressed and amused by Ostapenko's initiative.
"We have to give a shoutout to Jelena Ostapenko," Pegula said. "Talking about utilising the most of your career, she is selling things on Instagram." She went on to describe her initial reaction, stating, "I'm flabbergasted by the fact that she does this, but we also, I think, respect it because girl's just trying to get her bag and make her money."
Pegula, who has a personal fortune of nearly £15 million and is a potential heir to a £5.5 billion family wealth, gave a special mention to the Dyson vacuum cleaner, calling it a "legit purchase." She concluded with genuine admiration, saying, "Honestly, kudos to you. We kind of absolutely love it and you just keep selling your stuff."
A Glimpse into the Players' World
This light-hearted episode offers a rare glimpse into the off-court lives of top tennis professionals. Both players were recently in action at the WTA finals. Pegula was knocked out in the singles semi-finals by Elena Rybakina, while Ostapenko reached the same stage in the doubles competition with her partner, Hsieh Su-wei.
Ostapenko's venture proves that even for athletes at the pinnacle of their sport, there's always room for a savvy side hustle. Her initiative demonstrates a practical and down-to-earth approach to managing her possessions, endearing her to fans and fellow players alike.
