HOTHEAD DJOK AVOIDS SHOCK
...and Agassi is coaching for free!
Andre Agassi says that he is coaching novak djokovic for free, but he must be wondering if he deserves some recompense for the stress that he was put through yesterday.
The world no 2 often looked every inch liked someone who needs a full-time, committed mentor as he laboured into the French Open fourth round against diminutive Argentinian baseliner diego Schwartzman.
djokovic was ill at ease for much of the match before finishing a 5-7, 6-3, 3-6, 6-1, 6-1 winner after his opponent ran out of puff from early in the fourth set.
Faced with one of the smallest players on the tour at 5ft 7in, the 30-year- old Serb was often testy, and got into a confrontation with umpire Carlos ramos in the middle of the fourth set, even when he was getting on top.
ramos belatedly gave him a time violation for taking more than 20 seconds between points, robbing him of a first serve, and then gave him a point penalty for unsportsmanlike conduct after his tirade at the chair. ‘ You’re losing your mind,’ barked djokovic.
The Serb’s temper also frayed — not for the first time — with the ballkids as he tried to speed up the pace of play.
While he was clearly in the wrong, the episode was a further manifestation of what a mess the whole time rule is, with its haphazard enforcement.
earlier, in an interview with his recent predecessor on eurosport Boris Becker, Agassi (below) had revealed the slightly tenuous nature of his trial relationship with djokovic.
‘This is something I do on my own time and I do it on my own dime,’ said the former world no 1. ‘I don’t want anything out of this, I want to help him. And it helps the game, him at his best is good for the game and it’s a way I can contribute hopefully.’ Agassi, who has heavy commitments at home in Las Vegas, left himself some wriggle room about how readily available he will be when discussing his attendance at Wimbledon. ‘If he wants me there (at Wimbledon) I will come and figure it out. There’s a lot of responsibility so whatever’s practical and achievable then 100 per cent I will make the effort.’
However, he is more enthusiastic about the job than he was when initially approached, having written off the possibility in his own mind.
‘And then Steffi ( Graf, his wife) says: “maybe, maybe you’ll enjoy it” and I respect her so much I said, “Ok I’ll go to Paris early since I have to be there anyway and I’ll just get to know him”.’
It is still not known exactly how long Agassi — who has pre-existing sponsor commitments at the Slams — will stay in Paris with him, although djokovic originally said he would not be around in the second week due to previously scheduled obligations.
rafael nadal, his potential semi- final opponent, sailed through with contrasting ease, hammering nikoloz Basilashvili 6-0, 6-1, 6-0 in 90 minutes.
Belgian no 10 seed david Goffin had to be helped off the court in the first set of his match against Horacio Zeballos when he caught his foot under a rain tarpaulin and suffered a nasty ankle injury.
It was reported later that he had not damaged ligaments, as initially feared.