Jessica Pegula, known as one of the wealthiest figures in tennis, has suggested that Andy Murray may have taken on the role of Novak Djokovic’s coach out of curiosity. Shortly after retiring in the summer of 2024, Murray surprised the tennis community by announcing his decision to coach the 24-time Grand Slam champion.
The duo collaborated before the Australian Open, where Djokovic reached the semi-finals before withdrawing due to injury. Their partnership ended in May, just six months after it began, by mutual agreement.
During an episode of The Players Box podcast with Jennifer Brady, Desirae Krawczyk, and Madison Keys, Pegula, whose net worth is nearly £15 million with a potential £5.5 billion inheritance, suggested that Murray might have been intrigued by the chance to gain insights into Djokovic’s mindset.
Pegula remarked, “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 partnership between Murray and Djokovic unusual, supporting Pegula’s view that Murray sought to understand what makes Djokovic a formidable competitor.
Despite their split, both Murray and Djokovic have shared their thoughts on the coaching arrangement. Murray revealed that he saw the position as a unique opportunity, while Djokovic mentioned that they mutually agreed to end their partnership as they felt they had reached their limit in terms of on-court collaboration.