Jessica Pegula, known as one of the wealthiest figures in professional tennis, has suggested that Andy Murray may have taken on the role of Novak Djokovic’s coach out of sheer curiosity. Just months after retiring from professional tennis in 2024, Murray surprised the tennis community by announcing that he would be coaching the 24-time Grand Slam champion.
The collaboration between the two tennis legends began before the Australian Open, where Djokovic reached the semi-finals before withdrawing due to injury. It was later confirmed in May that their coaching partnership had ended by mutual agreement, only six months after it had begun.
During an episode of The Players Box podcast with Jennifer Brady, Desirae Krawczyk, and Madison Keys, Pegula, who has a net worth of nearly £15 million and is set to inherit a £5.5 billion fortune, suggested that Murray might have been intrigued by the chance to gain insights into Djokovic’s mindset.
Pegula commented, “I think he was so interested. I think he thought, ‘This is so strange, I’m so curious. Why do you want me to coach you but I’m also so interested in how your brain works and how you’re thinking out there.’ And I definitely saw them out there.”
Keys also found the Murray-Djokovic partnership intriguing, agreeing with Pegula that Murray likely wanted to understand what makes Djokovic such a formidable opponent.
Despite the split, both Murray and Djokovic have shared their perspectives on the coaching arrangement. Murray revealed in an interview with The Times that he saw coaching Djokovic as a unique opportunity that he wanted to explore. Djokovic mentioned that they mutually agreed to end the partnership as they felt they had reached their limits in terms of on-court success.
Djokovic expressed gratitude for the experience of working with Murray and acknowledged the valuable insights he gained from their collaboration. He also highlighted Murray’s exceptional tennis intelligence and expressed optimism for whoever Murray chooses to work with next, emphasizing the wealth of knowledge Murray has to offer.
Overall, the brief coaching stint between Murray and Djokovic provided a unique glimpse into the world of tennis partnerships and rivalries, offering fans and players alike a fascinating behind-the-scenes look at two tennis greats working together.
