Andy Murray and Novak Djokovic’s six-month partnership as player and coach has been the subject of much discussion, with the world’s richest tennis star weighing in
Andy Murray and Novak Djokovic have since spoken about their decision to team up(Image: Getty)
Jessica Pegula, often recognised as the world’s wealthiest tennis star, has suggested that Andy Murray may have accepted his brief role as Novak Djokovic’s coach purely out of fascination. Just months after hanging up his racket in the summer of 2024, Murray stunned the tennis world when he revealed he would be taking on coaching duties for the 24-time Grand Slam winner.
The two legends combined forces before the Australian Open, where the Serbian ace progressed to the semi-finals before withdrawing due to injury. It was subsequently confirmed in May that their collaboration had concluded by mutual consent, merely six months after the pair had united.
Speaking on The Players Box podcast alongside Jennifer Brady, Desirae Krawczyk and Madison Keys, Pegula, who boasts a net worth of nearly £15million and stands to inherit a £5.5billion fortune, suggested Murray could have embraced the opportunity to gain an insider’s perspective on Djokovic.
“I think he was so interested,” Pegula said. “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.
“I mean, I guess Australia was the first event and Novak was on the bike and he’s there talking about his court positioning like, ‘What should I do?’ and I’m there thinking, ‘What could they possibly be talking about?’
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“Novak does everything well, what could they be talking about? They’re so good, is this really making a difference? But it was interesting to see them interacting like that.”
Keys also believed the partnership was an unusual one, backing Pegula’s suggestions that Murray might have seized the chance to gain insight into what makes Djokovic such a fearsome competitor.
“Andy and Novak was interesting,” Keys said. “I don’t think we’ve ever really seen rivals in the same era work together… and he was playing the week up until he started coaching (laughs).”
Jessica Pegula spoke about Andy Murray and Novak Djokovic’s coaching union(Image: Getty)
She added: “Wouldn’t it be interesting to get an inside look on how Novak is Novak, and the fact that they were rivals you could see what makes him tick, like, what were things that helped him beat you as many times as he did. I think that would be an interesting inside [look] that I don’t think is really going to happen very often.”
Despite their split, both Murray and Djokovic have since discussed their parting of ways. The two-time Wimbledon champion disclosed that he accepted the position as Djokovic’s coach because of the “unique opportunity” it presented.
Speaking to The Times in June, Murray said: “We had a chat on the phone and he asked me if I would consider coaching him, which I wasn’t expecting. I think it was a pretty unique opportunity. I was really enjoying being at home but I thought I should give it a go and see whether I enjoyed it.”
Djokovic has opened up about his split with his former partner, stating that they “couldn’t get more out of the partnership on court” and shared his thoughts ahead of the French Open.
Andy Murray coached Novak Djokovic at the Australian Open this year(Image: Getty)
He said: “It was mutual, We both wanted to have a call and to speak, so we – actually, we both were on the same page. So it was not, you know, his initiative or my initiative. It was both of us coming together and just saying, you know, I think we should stop here. That’s what it was.
“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. But I still think that, you know, I have learned things on the court with him, I have enjoyed my conversations with him about tennis, because I still think that he’s one of the most brilliant tennis IQ guys out there.
“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. It just didn’t work out between us in terms of results, in terms of what we were hoping for, and that’s all there is to it.”