Jessica Pegula explains coaching shake-up, not wanting to have ‘regrets’ – ‘I needed to make tough decisions’

Jessica Pegula has explained she split from coach David Witt as she “needed something different” and didn’t want to “regret” not making a change.

Witt had coached Pegula for nearly five years and was named 2022 WTA Coach of the Year after helping her reach No. 3 in the world rankings.

Pegula, who is making her return to action in San Diego this week after being out of action since the Australian Open, says the split with Witt “naturally happened”.

“I just felt like I needed something different,” she said.

“I’ve just turned 30 so I feel like I’m getting to that point where I am maybe more near to the ending of my career phase so I just kind of needed to make some tough decisions to try something different.

“I didn’t want to regret not doing this. I think it was just something that naturally happened.”

With Witt gone, Pegula has hired two new coaches to her team: Mark Knowles and Mark Merklein.

Former doubles world No. 1 Knowles won three doubles Grand Slam titles and has previously worked as a coach with Milos Raonic, Jack Sock and Mardy Fish.

Merklein is also a former player who had most of his success in doubles and played with Knowles for the Bahamas at the 2000 Olympics Games.

“Right now I’m working in a combination with Mark Merklein and Mark Knowles,” explained Pegula.

“Both of them can’t travel full time so I am kind of in the process of trying to figure that out. But one is based in Boca [Raton, Florida] which is really helpful as that is where I live. It’s been nice to have that set up.

“Mark Knowles is in Dallas so I have just spent a week there. It has been nice. I like having a collaborative setup where I feel like I can talk to multiple people and have different feedback and keep things fresh and motivating at the same time.

“We will see how it goes but really excited.”

Pegula is the top seed in San Diego and plays her opening match against Jule Niemeier on Wednesday.

She is also playing doubles at the event alongside Desirae Krawczyk.