Pegula 'wants' to coach Djokovic: "I would love to know what goes through his mind"

Jessica Pegula is preparing for a US Open where she arrives as a strong title contender. With the crisis in the game and results of Aryna Sabalenka, the Achilles tendon injury of Elena Rybakina, and the inconsistency of Iga Swiatek, the world number three, who recently reached the final in Cincinnati, has a golden opportunity to win her first Grand Slam.

But before getting down to business in the New York tournament, the American gave an interview to Sports Illustrated in which she spoke about her role as president of the WTA Architecture Council, her unconventional path to the elite of tennis, where it took her a while to become one of the best players in the world, and also about her 'wish' to be, in another life, a coach for Novak Djokovic.

Jessica Pegula reflects on her great season on the WTA circuit

"I think, going into my fourth Grand Slam, my season has been fantastic. It has flown by. Tennis is one of those sports that makes you turn the page quickly, for better or for worse. If I look at my year, it has been incredible, honestly. But of course, there is still a lot of work to do and many more goals I want to achieve."

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Pegula inherited her mother's leadership qualities

"I am very straightforward and very honest. But I also think I communicate it quite well, so it’s not misunderstood. But I am definitely quite direct, and I think I don't know if I inherited that from my mom. I would say she was the same: very direct about what she thought, and I think she was quite thoughtful in the way she always expressed things, whether to employees, to us, or in work matters. So I think I probably inherited that from my mom. We weren't very emotional. I would say my dad is probably a little more emotional. I think my mom and I definitely had a more similar personality, quite relaxed."

Pegula explains her slow but successful journey to the top

"I’ve had a very interesting journey, and I think it’s not the most typical to become an elite player. I didn’t make it until I was 25 or older, and I was rising at an older age, where people usually are at their peak. So I think having gone through a lot before that, before turning 25, definitely taught me a lot."

Friendship goals! 🥰@CocoGauff | @JPegula | #CincyTennis pic.twitter.com/2rSFIFjOmv

— wta (@WTA) August 24, 2026

"I think that also gained me a lot of respect on the circuit. I have seen many of these girls and coaches for a long time, since playing Challenger tournaments when I was 18, and being in really incredible places at a much different level than I am considered now, like being able to play on center courts at all the Grand Slams. I have seen it all from different angles. But everything went the way it was supposed to, because I don’t think I would have been able to perform so well as an elite player in the last few years if I hadn’t grown, lived experiences, and matured during my youth."

Pegula reveals what makes tennis so special

"I love that it's an individual sport. I also like the team aspect, but I think the individuality is what makes it so special. Having to go out there alone with Arthur Ashe, just you and your thoughts: basically, I win or lose this battle. I think, for me, that remains the best part. I think that's what makes it so great; it makes it very hard if you lose, but I think it gives you a lot of joy when you win."

Pegula and the dream of coaching Novak Djokovic

"He is the greatest player of all time. But I would love to know what goes through his mind tactically during a match. I feel that there are other elite players… Serena had her serve and was so powerful. I don’t know what he could tell me, he would say: 'Just get an ace.' And I would say: 'I can’t do that.' I think Roger Federer was so talented that everything came to him naturally, and I believe that Rafa Nadal had that incredible physical condition and competitive mentality. But I feel that Novak was very tactical, and I think that relates more to my playing style."

Pegula shares her thoughts on those who think she is a ‘normal’ girl

"I am very calm, but at the same time, I think a lot on the court, so I think some people think I just go with the flow. But I actually think quite a bit, a lot. I talk a lot to myself. I am constantly moving. I think when I compete, even when I practice other sports for fun, I love talking to myself and analyzing things out loud," concludes Jessica Pegula, who will fight to win her first Grand Slam at the US Open 2026.

This is an automatic translation. You can read the original news, Pegula "quiere" entrenar a Djokovic: "Me encantaría saber qué pasa por su cabeza"