Jessica Pegula gets 'mythic' in new ad for Call of Duty: Mobile

Attention, tennis fans who are also Call of Duty gamers: Jessica Pegula is one of you.

The reigning US Open finalist and world No. 4 recently debuted as a face of Call of Duty: Mobile “Make it Mythic” marketing campaign, where she transforms into Mythic Sophia, one of the game's playable characters.

Pegula's partnership with COD was made public ahead of the Miami Open with Instagram and YouTube videos that also featured a special cameo from former Australian Open finalist, and Pegula's good friend, Jennifer Brady.

In it, Pegula and Brady are meant to be playing tennis, before Pegula morphs into the alter-ego, leaving Brady stunned.

Pegula recently told *Sports Business Journal* that she's always been a gamer at heart, "decompressing" by playing Call of Duty with her brothers and husband, and even traveled the tour with her PlayStation 4.

But her level of commitment picked up during the free time she found herself having when tennis was suspended during the COVID-19 pandemic, and since the PS5 is "a little larger, a little round, a little awkward," Pegula started playing the mobile title of the world-famous first-person shooter game, which launched in 2019.

Eventually, her representatives got in touch with Activision, the makers of Call of Duty, to execute the deal, and before committing, the publisher even looked up Pegula's username to see how many playing hours she's logged.

“I try to do things I’m interested in and am actually a part of and feel passionate for, so I don’t feel like I have to fake anything,” Pegula said.

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Pegula worked with a green screen and CGI for the first time in her ad shoot. And while the deal is a new one for a female professional tennis player, the American says she hopes it's not the last. Her new venture has been popular amongst her peers in the locker room.

“It’s been kinda funny to see how many are actually into [gaming], who don’t say anything about it,” Pegula said. “I don’t know if there’s this stigma on tour that it’s nerdy or weird.

"I’ve had several girls come up to me after doing this and tell me, ‘Oh my gosh, you play, too? I love to play with my boyfriend and friends, and it’s so my fun!’ and it opened up whole other world in the tennis scene. I’d love to be more involved with campaigns like this.”