Agassi set to coach Djokovic at SW19
ANDRE AGASSI expects to be coaching world No.2 Novak Djokovic at Wimbledon next month.
The Serb turned to the American tennis legend after he split from his long-time coaching team in April but they only began working together at the French Open last week.
Agassi is not being paid by Djokovic who revealed after yesterday’s win over Diego Schwartzman that their work together at Roland Garros is over.
But the eight-time Grand Slam hero is ready to coach him at Wimbledon.
Agassi said: “If he wants me there, I will come and we’ll figure it out.
“I have a lot of responsibilities so whatever’s practical and achievable, 100 per cent I will make the effort.”
Agassi has committed most of his time to his charitable foundation in Las Vegas but returned to the tennis circuit after a phonecall from Djokovic.
Speaking to Boris Becker – who was among the coaching team the 30-year-old split from in December – he revealed it was wife, 22-time Grand Slam champion Steffi Graf, who persuaded him to take the role.
Agassi told Eurosport: “It was a surprise for me. I got a call from him late in Monte Carlo after he was done and he wanted to talk tennis and the possibility of working (together).
“I said, ‘Maybe I can help you over the phone? I don’t think you need much but this is not possible for me with the balance of my life’.
“And then Steffi says, ‘Maybe you’ll enjoy it.’ I said, ‘You think?’ I respect her so much. So I said, ‘I’ll go early, since I have to be in Paris any way and I’ll just get to know him.’
“He’s a very inspirational guy. I do this on my own time, my money. I don’t want or need anything.
“I want to help him. And I think it helps the game. Novak at his best is good for the game.”