Jessica Pegula, known for her substantial wealth in the tennis world, has suggested that Andy Murray may have taken on the role of 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.

Their collaboration began before the Australian Open, where Djokovic reached the semi-finals before withdrawing due to injury. In May, it was confirmed that their coaching partnership had ended by mutual agreement, just six months after they had joined forces.

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 inheritance of £5.5 billion, speculated that Murray might have been intrigued by the chance to gain insights into Djokovic’s mindset.

Pegula remarked, “I think he was so intrigued. I believe he thought, ‘This is so unusual, I’m so curious. Why would you want me to coach you, but I’m also fascinated by how your mind works and your decision-making on the court.’ I observed them interacting.”

Keys also found the partnership unconventional, supporting Pegula’s view that Murray could have sought to understand what makes Djokovic a formidable opponent.

Despite parting ways, both Murray and Djokovic have shared their perspectives on their coaching relationship. Murray revealed to The Times in June that he saw the opportunity as unique and decided to give coaching a try despite enjoying his time at home.

Djokovic expressed that they mutually agreed to end the partnership as they felt they had reached their limit in terms of on-court collaboration. He praised Murray’s tennis intelligence and expressed gratitude for the experience, acknowledging that despite the lack of desired results, he had learned valuable insights from their time together.