• Live
    • Audio Only
  • google plus
  • facebook
  • twitter
News > Sport

Djokovic Turns to Agassi for French Open

  • It remains to be seen what the Djokovic-Agassi collaboration will produce.

    It remains to be seen what the Djokovic-Agassi collaboration will produce. | Photo: Reuters

Published 22 May 2017
Opinion

The Las Vegas showboat, as Agassi was known, has the influence of coaching elites Nick Bollettieri, Brad Gilbert and Darren Cahill to draw from.

World No. 2 Novak Djokovic will enter the French Open under the tutelage of a veteran.

RELATED:
Roger Federer Outfights Nadal to Win 5th Australian Open

The year's second grand slam, which is scheduled to begin on Sunday, will see eight-time major champion Andre Agassi debut as Djokovic's coach. The American will be charged with the task of reinvigorating the game of the declining Serb.

The newly minted 30-year-old was cheaply routed 4 and 3 by “Sascha” Zverev in the final of the just-completed Italian Open. The 20-year-old Zverev registered his first masters title and notched a top-10 rank with the win.

In Andre Agassi, Djokovic hopes to find a deliverer of sorts. The Serb has won a dozen grand slams, the most recent being last year's Roland Garros title. He has not won a major since.

In recent times, he has experienced a meandering decline, which included being unceremoniously ousted in the second round of the 2017 Australian Open, where he was the defending champion. He lost to a player ranked outside the top 100 as well as failed to reach the quarters of the tournament for the first time.

RELATED:
Puig Offers Advice for Aspiring Female LatAm Tennis Stars

Agassi, who has won all of the majors, at least once, can be mentioned among the best tennis players during his time. A wild-haired, perceptive and pesky opponent on the court, Agassi will now be responsible for mentoring Djokovic to form during the upcoming major. The defending champ is likely banking on Agassi's introduction of a new perspective to counter the prolonged slump he has been in.

The Las Vegas showboat, as Agassi was known, has the influence of coaching elites Nick Bollettieri, Brad Gilbert and Darren Cahill to draw from. But, it remains to be seen what the Djokovic-Agassi collaboration will produce. In any event, any result will likely top the recent disappointing results being recorded by Djokovic.

Up to the end of 2016, Djokovic was being coached by another legend, six-time major winner Boris Becker.

Comment
0
Comments
Post with no comments.