NEW YORK — American tennis star Jessica Pegula has credited an unconventional team-building exercise—an escape room challenge—with helping her rediscover her form and focus, propelling her on a impressive run to the US Open quarter-finals.
The World No. 5, who has struggled with form and a neck injury throughout the summer hard-court season, decided to break from her usual pre-tournament routine after an early exit in Cleveland. Instead of intense practice, she opted for a mental reset with her close-knit team.
"We were all feeling a bit of pressure, and the results just weren't coming," Pegula explained in her post-match press conference. "I felt like I was in my own head, overthinking every shot. So, we decided to do something completely different to get out of that bubble."
That "something different" was a trip to a local escape room, where Pegula, her coach, her hitting partner, and her physio were locked in a themed room and given 60 minutes to solve a series of puzzles to find their way out.
A Lesson in Teamwork and Problem-Solving
Pegula described the experience as a revelation that directly translated to her performance on the tennis courts of Flushing Meadows. The escape room’s requirement for clear communication, quick problem-solving, and mutual trust under pressure mirrored the dynamics needed during a high-stakes match.
"In there, you can't just be an individual. You have to work together, listen to each other's ideas, and sometimes someone else has the solution you'd never think of," Pegula said. "It really broke down those walls and reminded us that we're a unit."
She drew a direct parallel to her game: "Tennis is so individual, but you have a team around you for a reason. On the court, when I'm down a break point, it's like a puzzle. I have to stay calm, assess my options, and find a solution. The escape room was a perfect metaphor for that."
From Struggles to Success at Flushing Meadows
Pegula’s 2023 North American swing had been challenging. A neck issue forced her out of Montreal and hampered her performance in Cincinnati. The pressure was mounting for the top-ranked American woman to perform in front of her home crowd.
Her renewed mindset was immediately evident in New York. She cruised through her early rounds with a newfound sense of freedom and tactical clarity, not dropping a set on her way to the second week. Key improvements in her game included:
- First Serve Percentage: Increased to 68% from a season average of 62%.
- Break Points Saved: Converted 75% of break points faced in her first three matches.
- Unforced Errors: Dramatically reduced, hitting a tournament-low 12 against her fourth-round opponent.
Her coach, David Witt, confirmed the escape room's impact. "It was a reset button. We came out of there laughing, high-fiving, and the tension was just gone. She's been incredibly focused and positive ever since. It's the best tennis she's played in months."
A New Trend in Mental Preparation?
While unconventional, sports psychologists suggest that such activities can be highly effective. Dr. Rebecca Smith, a performance specialist who works with elite athletes, explained, "High-pressure scenarios that are completely unrelated to sport force the brain to engage different neural pathways. This can disrupt patterns of negative thinking and performance anxiety."
She added, "The collaborative aspect is key. It reinforces trust and non-verbal communication within the team, which directly translates to the player-box dynamic during a match. Seeing your coach as a teammate in a puzzle, not just a taskmaster, can be incredibly freeing."
Pegula’s story has sparked conversations in the locker room, with several players expressing interest in trying a similar tactic. "I might have to steal that idea," said fellow quarter-finalist Madison Keys. "Anything that gets you out of your own head before a major is worth a shot."
Looking Ahead
While her run was eventually ended in a hard-fought quarter-final match, Pegula leaves New York with her confidence fully restored and a valuable new tool in her mental preparation arsenal.
"It sounds silly, but it was one of the most important things we did all summer," Pegula reflected. "It reminded me that this is supposed to be fun. We solved a puzzle together, and it helped me remember how to solve the puzzle on the court. I think we'll be doing that a lot more often."
The experience underscores a growing recognition in professional sports that peak performance is as much about mental fortitude and team cohesion as it is about physical skill and repetition. For Jessica Pegula, the key to unlocking her US Open potential was, quite literally, finding a key in a locked room with her team.