Jessica Pegula’s coach explains why she hasn’t reached world number one
Photo by Patrick HAMILTON / AFP via Getty Images Jessica Pegula has made significant progress in her career, especially later on, and has firmly established herself among the top players in the world. While she hasn’t captured a Grand Slam title yet, she currently holds the number 6 spot in the world rankings and recently added a fourth Masters title to her resume by winning the Dubai Championships. Pegula is now aiming to carry that form into the Charleston Open as she looks to continue building on what’s already been a strong season.
The 30-year-old is getting closer to breaking through at a major, and according to her coach Mark Knowles, there’s a specific reason why it hasn’t happened yet. Pegula’s Title Hopes Growing, but Knowles Sees One Factor Holding Her Back Jessica Pegula has made notable progress in recent seasons, climbing the rankings and becoming a regular contender at major events. While she hasn’t yet claimed a Grand Slam title, her consistency has been impressive.
She’s currently ranked sixth in the world and recently added a fourth Masters trophy to her collection with a win in Dubai. Pegula is now looking ahead to the Charleston Open, aiming to build on what’s already shaping up to be another strong season. The talk around her game is no longer about if she can win a major, but when.
But according to coach Mark Knowles, there’s still one aspect holding Pegula back from taking that final step. Mark Knowles discusses Jessica Pegula’s Grand Slam hopes Photo by Robert Prange/Getty Images Pegula began working with Knowles in 2024, and there’s little doubt she’s become an even more complete player since then. Her run to the 2024 US Open final came under his guidance, though she fell short against Aryna Sabalenka.
Even so, it was clear progress and proof of how much closer she was getting to breaking through at the top level. Speaking on the Inside-In Tennis Podcast, Knowles spoke honestly about how hard it will be for Pegula to reach number one because of how dominant Sabalenka and Rybakina have been over the past two years. “It’s a great challenge,” he said.
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