Mark Knowles, co-coach of Jessica Pegula, had a great feeling before her US Open: “I feel like we’re there”

This year’s WTA Finals, combined with her runner-up finish at the US Open, could represent the capstone of Jessica Pegula’s career. But for much of this year, the exclusive event appeared outside her reach.

In January, Pegula lost before the third round of a Grand Slam for the first time since Wimbledon 2021. Shortly after, she decided to split from her longtime coach, David Witt. The two headed to the winner’s circle in their very first tournament together, the 2019 Citi Open, and their partnership saw Pegula rise from relative unknown to No. 3 in the world.

But approaching her 30s and concerned that she’d gone as far as she could with Witt, Pegula made an abrupt change.

“It was a total surprise to me,” Witt told me two weeks after he and Pegula spoke. “Never saw it coming.”

Seeking a new voice, Pegula found two: Mark Knowles and Mark Merklein. The former ATP doubles standouts would co-coach Pegula, with Merklein stationed closer to Pegula’s home in Florida, and Knowles’ availability dictated by his existing tennis commitments (among them, Tennis Channel analyst and ATP board member).

“Anyone that knows Mark Merklein, they know he’s one of the nicest good guys out there,” Knowles said in an exclusive interview with TENNIS.com. “So, I think that was an easy fit right away for Jess.”

The trio had no problems clicking or finding a proper coaching schedule. Still, following an opening-round loss at Indian Wells, the fifth-ranked player in the world was just 6-4 on the season. Then, after a pair of deep runs in Miami and Charleston, Pegula was sidelined for two months due to injuries.

In her first tournament back, on grass in ‘s-Hertogenbosh, Pegula took a loss to 400^th-ranked Aleksandra Krunic in the round of 16.

“This year she had to deal with some adversity with the injuries, which is always tough,” Knowles says. “But as I explained to her in the beginning, I think it was a result of how much tennis she had been playing, which is a good problem to have.

“It’s tough for players to manage their schedule when you’re winning that much.”

Pegula won’t be playing doubles at the WTA Finals for the first time in three years because she has pared down her schedule—though not entirely. She played 25 doubles matches this season; still, that’s 20 fewer than she did in 2023.

Most notably, however, Pegula didn’t sign up for doubles or mixed at the US Open. This wouldn’t register as newsworthy for most players, but for those who’ve followed Pegula’s journey, the single-mindedness spoke volumes.

As Knowles recalls, “We as a team and her and also her fitness trainer, John Opfer, we got together right after Wimbledon, kind of came up with a plan for the summer and we engaged that plan immediately.”

She’s right where she wants to be. Mark Knowles, a week before Jessica Pegula began her US Open

Immediately, Pegula’s fortunes, and form, turned. She lost just one set in Toronto and defended her 1000-level title. She went on nine-match win streak and reached the Cincinnati final. Only Sabalenka was able to prevent Pegula from becoming the first woman in 51 years to complete the taxing Canada-Cincy double.

The North American run was a validation of Team Pegula’s process, and necessary balm following early exits at Wimbledon and the Olympics.

“The whole team, we’re super proud of her, love the way she’s playing, love the way she’s competing,” Knowles told me from Cincinnati, shortly after her runner-up finish. “She’s very mentally strong.

“She’s a resilient young lady, and she’s in a great spot heading into the year’s final major. She’s right where she wants to be.”

Before I let Knowles off the phone, I asked him where he felt Pegula was on his and Merklein’s timeline. The relationship was only a few months old, and surely there was a long-term plan in place, with milestones yet to be reached.

Perhaps knowing something I didn’t, Knowles expressed great confidence before Pegula’s next tournament, the US Open.

“I feel like we’re there.”