Jessica Pegula, known for being one of the wealthiest figures in the tennis world, has suggested that Andy Murray may have taken on the role as Novak Djokovic’s coach out of sheer curiosity. Shortly after retiring from professional tennis in the summer of 2024, Murray surprised the tennis community by announcing his decision to coach the 24-time Grand Slam champion.
The duo teamed up before the Australian Open, where Djokovic advanced to the semi-finals before withdrawing due to injury. It was revealed in May that their coaching collaboration had ended by mutual agreement, just six months after they joined forces.
During an episode of The Players Box podcast with Jennifer Brady, Desirae Krawczyk, and Madison Keys, Pegula, with a net worth of nearly £15 million and set to inherit a £5.5 billion fortune, suggested that Murray may have been intrigued by the opportunity 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 shared the view that the Murray-Djokovic partnership was unique, supporting Pegula’s idea that Murray might have embraced the chance to understand what makes Djokovic a formidable opponent.
Despite their split, both Murray and Djokovic have reflected on their coaching experience. Murray revealed that he accepted the coaching role because it presented a “unique opportunity,” while Djokovic acknowledged that they mutually agreed to end their partnership due to not achieving their desired results.
Djokovic expressed gratitude for the experience, stating, “Whoever he decides to work with next, if and when, you know, that player is going to be lucky because he has definitely a lot to share, a lot of great insights.”