Jessica Pegula, known for her significant wealth in the tennis world, has suggested that Andy Murray may have taken on the role of Novak Djokovic’s coach out of pure fascination. Just a few months after retiring from professional tennis in the summer of 2024, Murray surprised the tennis community by announcing that he would be coaching the 24-time Grand Slam champion.
The collaboration between Murray and Djokovic began before the Australian Open, where Djokovic reached the semi-finals before withdrawing due to injury. However, in May, it was confirmed that their coaching partnership had ended by mutual agreement, just six months after it began.
During a podcast called “The Players Box,” 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 opportunity to gain insights into Djokovic’s mindset.
Pegula mentioned, “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 shared her views, agreeing with Pegula that Murray likely saw the coaching role as a chance to understand what sets Djokovic apart as a fierce competitor.
Despite their split, both Murray and Djokovic have reflected on their coaching experience. Murray revealed in an interview with The Times in June that he saw coaching Djokovic as a unique opportunity that he wanted to explore, despite initially enjoying his time at home. On the other hand, Djokovic expressed that their partnership had reached its limit in terms of on-court results and mutual understanding.
Djokovic emphasized, “For him to join my team and for us to give a shot to this player-coach relationship was really an incredible thing for tennis and for both of us. I was very privileged and honoured.”
The two tennis stars have now moved on from their coaching collaboration, with Murray considering his next steps in coaching and Djokovic appreciative of the experience and insights gained from their time together.