Game, Set, Recharge: Jessica Pegula balances nutrition and sanity while eating on tour

Rome, Paris, London, New York, Tokyo…

This isn’t just a list of stops on the WTA and ATP calendars—it’s also a tour of the world’s top culinary destinations, home to some of the highest concentrations of Michelin-starred restaurants.

As Baseline explores the wellness routines, sleep hacks, and productivity habits of globe-trotting tennis players, one question rises to the top: how do the pros stick to their nutrition goals while living out of suitcases and competing in foodie havens?

Read More: Game, Set, Recharge: How Casper Ruud keeps up his ‘clean and strict’ diet on the road

Because when hotel breakfasts and tournament dining halls fall short, players and their teams are often on their own—unless they’ve got a private chef in tow.

While some athletes stick to a 'clean and strict' diet no matter the city—like food-poisoning-prone Casper Ruud—others, like world No. 3 Jessica Pegula, take a more balanced approach.

You have all these things going on, you’re traveling, you’re taken out of your element every single week.

Sometimes the thing that keeps you sane is going to a good restaurant.

🍜 ‘Food is the only thing we have!’

Many players view food as fuel for the body, a mentality that can extend off court too. And with weeks of travel and back-to-back events, it’s easy to fall into a routine of plain chicken, endless pasta, and sushi platters.

But speaking to Tennis.com in Paris—land of croissants, quiche, and steak frites—Pegula shared why she makes space to enjoy the moment, one meal at a time.

“Yeah, that’s really hard. I think it’s a little bit different in tennis… Like, we’re traveling every single week,” Pegula explained. “It’s really hard to try and be super strict every single week.”

“I do think maybe we cheat a little bit more than other sports. It’s ’cause (food) is, like, the only thing we have!” she added with a laugh.

“You have all these things going on, you’re traveling, you’re taken out of your element every single week. Sometimes the thing that keeps you sane is going to a good restaurant.”

Read More: Jessica Pegula: a hotel stay can “make or break” a major tournament

💪 Consistency over rigidity

Today’s top tennis players are a far cry from the beer-and-cigarettes champions of decades past. From gluten-free to sugar-free, many follow extreme diets year-round.

Pegula prefers to find a middle ground—one that prioritizes performance without sacrificing joy.

“I’m not overly strict… It’s not like there is a certain window where you could be strict,” she said. “If you want to be strict you’d be strict 11 months out of the year, and that’s just kind of insane.

“I try not to be too hard on myself… I think it’s better just to keep a little bit of a balance.”

She adds that her own nutrition rhythm shifts with the tennis calendar, tightening up before and during big events, and easing up afterward.

“Definitely I try to be stricter during tournaments and like lead-up time. Then maybe after, if you have a few days and want to kind of cheat or do something really bad, then I feel like that’s the time.”

🌎 How geography affects nutrition

Pegula, who lives in South Florida, also revealed that where she plays can shape what—and how strictly—she eats. When she’s in Europe, for example, she gives herself more flexibility thanks to different food regulations and fresher ingredients.

“I’m a little less strict in Europe because I feel like the food is a little bit cleaner,” she said in Paris.

“When I’m home I try not to do a lot of dairy. I’m usually gluten-free. I’m not severely allergic, but I do feel better when I don’t eat it. In Europe it definitely doesn’t affect me as much so maybe not as strict in that sense.

"I think you just have to keep a good balance. Like I said, we travel every single week.”

🍟 Q: Is there any meal you just can’t resist?

JESSICA PEGULA: I love French fries, which is not good in Paris. Not good (smiling).