The brief but remarkable coaching partnership between British tennis legend Andy Murray and Serbian world-beater Novak Djokovic continues to intrigue the sporting world, with one of the game's biggest stars now weighing in on the unusual alliance.
The Billionaire's Theory
Jessica Pegula, frequently cited as the world's wealthiest tennis professional with a personal net worth of nearly £15 million and an inheritance of £5.5 billion awaiting her, has proposed a fascinating explanation for Murray's decision. Speaking on The Players Box podcast alongside fellow players Jennifer Brady, Desirae Krawczyk, and Madison Keys, Pegula suggested Murray was driven by sheer curiosity.
"I think he was so interested," Pegula stated. "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'."
Pegula recalled observing the pair during the Australian Open, their first event together, and being baffled by their conversations. "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?'" she said. "Novak does everything well, what could they be talking about?"
A Rare Glimpse Inside a Rival's Mind
Madison Keys, another top player on the podcast, supported Pegula's assessment, highlighting the unprecedented nature of the partnership. "Andy and Novak was interesting," Keys remarked. "I don't think we've ever really seen rivals in the same era work together."
She theorised that the chance to understand what makes Djokovic such a dominant force would have been an irresistible lure for Murray. "Wouldn't it be interesting to get an inside look on how Novak is Novak... what were things that helped him beat you as many times as he did," Keys said. "I think that would be an interesting inside [look] that I don't think is really going to happen very often."
The Partnership's Short-Lived Journey
The collaboration between the two tennis titans was announced after Murray's retirement from professional play in the summer of 2024. In a move that stunned fans and pundits alike, the Scot agreed to coach the 24-time Grand Slam champion ahead of the Australian Open.
Their union lasted approximately six months, concluding by mutual consent in May 2025 after Djokovic reached the semi-finals in Melbourne before withdrawing due to an injury.
Reflecting on the initial offer, Murray later told The Times, "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." He admitted that despite enjoying life at home after retirement, he felt he should "give it a go and see whether I enjoyed it."
Following their split, Djokovic confirmed the decision was mutual. "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," the Serbian explained. He praised Murray's "brilliant tennis IQ" but conceded that "it just didn't work out between us in terms of results, in terms of what we were hoping for."
Despite the partnership ending, Djokovic expressed his gratitude, calling it "an incredible thing for tennis" and stating that any player who works with Murray in the future will be "lucky because he has definitely a lot to share."
