Novak Djokovic is joining forces with Andre Agassi in an effort to return to No. 1.
Djokovic announced Sunday that Agassi will coach him at the French Open, which starts next Sunday.
“I spoke to Andre the last couple weeks on the phone, and we decided to get together in Paris,” Djokovic said. “So he’s going to be there. We’ll see what [the] future brings.
“We are both excited to work together and see where it takes us. We don’t have any long-term commitment. It’s just us trying to get to know each other in Paris a little bit,” Djokovic added. “He will not stay the whole tournament. He’s going to stay only to a certain time, and then we’ll see after that what’s going to happen.”
The second-ranked Djokovic split with longtime coach Marian Vajda and two other team members — fitness coach Gebhard Phil Gritsch and physiotherapist Miljan Amanovic — at the start of the month.
Agassi, 47, who retired in 2006, won eight Grand Slam titles, including the French Open in 1999.
Djokovic has won 12 Grand Slams.
“Andre is someone that I have tremendous respect for as a person and as a player,” Djokovic said. “He has been through everything that I’m going through. On the court he understands the game amazingly well. I am enjoying every conversation that I have with him.
The pairing is the latest in a series of top players working with former standouts, from Andy Murray and Ivan Lendl, to Rafael Nadal and Carlos Moya, to Kei Nishikori and Michael Chang.
Djokovic was coached by Boris Becker the past three seasons, but they split last year.
Vajda started working with Djokovic in 2006.
Djokovic lost his No. 1 ranking to Murray last year after a slump in form following his French Open triumph. Although, nuimerous reports attribute the slump in form to the Serb going vegan, which resulted in a drastic weight loss and lack of stamina on the court. Apparently, going vegan was pushed by his wife Jelena who manages the Eqvita vegan restaurant in Monte Carlo.
Will one of Agassi’s first lesson be to order a steak, remains to be seen.
