Agassi deflects attention on Novak
I’m patient and, for us, this is a great way to start off our collaboration and friendship and get to know each other and then see where it takes us.
If Novak Djokovic was hoping to take a little pressure and attention off himself after some rough results, he might very well have found the perfect way to do that by adding Andre Agassi as a coaching consultant of sorts for the French Open.
Well, for up to a week of the tournament, anyway.
With Agassi seated in the stands, generally expressionless during the match and silent afterward, the No. 2-seeded Djokovic was not always at his cleanswinging best while beating Marcel Granollers 6-3, 6-4, 6-2 on Monday to begin the defence of the title that allowed him to complete a career Grand Slam at Roland Garros a year ago.
“I mean, it’s hard to say whether there is significant difference on the court, because it’s only a few days that we are together,” Djokovic said.
“So it’s going to take a little bit of time . ... I’m patient and, for us, this is a great way to start off our collaboration and friendship and get to know each other and then see where it takes us.”
Sunglasses perched atop his shaved pate, leaning forward with his chin resting on his hands and elbows on his knees, Agassi occasionally applauded during the 2½-hour first-round match.
Later, Agassi — who counts the 1999 French Open among his eight Grand Slam titles — declined to take questions from a reporter.
Djokovic, for his part, had plenty to say about their partnership.
“Well, he’s going to stay ... I hope, ‘til the end of this week. Then he has to leave, because he has some scheduled ... things that he cannot reschedule. So that’s all,” said Djokovic.
“I’m going to try to use the time spent with him as best as I can, as best as we can. So far, plenty of information, plenty of things to kind of process.”