One of the quarterfinals at the 2026 Australian Open is set to feature an all-American clash between Amanda Anisimova and Jessica Pegula. This is the fourth meeting between the two players on tour level, with Pegula dominating the head-to-head, having won all three previous matches.
Both Anisimova and Pegula have yet to drop a set at this year’s Melbourne Major, which is a credit to them and to their respective teams. With on-site coaching now allowed at the Australian Open, it is crucial who players have in their respective corners during matches to provide valuable input on court. Let’s take a look at who all are present in Pegula and Anisimova’s boxes at the Australian Open.
Jessica Pegula’s Box At The Australian Open
Pegula’s box in Melbourne is headed by her coach, Mark Knowles. Knowles had a prolific career on the ATP Tour as a doubles player, winning three Grand Slam doubles titles at three of the four Majors, barring Wimbledon. Having retired from the sport in 2016, he previously coached ATP players Mardy Fish and Milos Raonic.
Knowles began his collaboration with Pegula in early 2024, which has seen the American player be a constant presence in the world’s Top 10. Under the guidance of Knowles, Pegula hit a major career milestone, reaching the final of the 2024 US Open.
Knowles is assisted in his coaching duties by Mark Merklein, who is a former Bahamian tennis professional and a constant presence in Pegula’s box.
Merkelein mainly works with the American during the off-season, helping her develop her game constantly. The third member in Pegula’s box is John Opfer, her physical trainer, with whom she has been working for quite some time now. Pegula is one of the most physically durable players on Tour, and given the current weather conditions in Melbourne, the role of the trainer is valuable.
Apart from her team, Pegula’s husband, Taylor Gahagen, is also seen in the box sometimes, cheering his wife on court and giving her support.
Amanda Anisimova’s Box At The Australian Open
Since mid-2024, Amanda Anisimova has been working with Hendrik Vleesehouwers, who is the main presence in the American players’ box in Melbourne. It is only fair to say that this coaching collaboration has brought the best out of Anisimova, especially in the last season, which saw her reach successive Major finals at Wimbledon and at the US Open.
Anisimova has also focused on her physical training and conditioning so that she can endure three-set matches, especially in brutal conditions like those in Melbourne. To cater to her needs, she has Rob Brandsma, her physical trainer, who previously worked with her in 2021-2022 and later came back to join her team in 2024. Anisimova previously struggled in three-set matches due to her physicality, but Brandsma has played a big role in helping her get physically durable.
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Another key addition to Anisimova’s box is Shady Soleymani, who is her physiotherapist. She joined in 2025, and her role has been to help Anisimova maintain her physical health and use viable forms of recovery after matches so that she can sustain her body throughout a long and grueling season.
As far as the family is concerned, Anisimova’s mother, Olga, and her sister, Maria, are sometimes seen in her box, cheering the American on during matches.
