MINDSETS Agassi tipping fellow thinker Djok

E H T S W N O IMB LED grace in the two years between 1995 and 1997.

In barely 24 months he crashed from No.1 in the world to No.147 – before returning to the elite with a vengeance.

Despite the apparent similarities, the 1992 Wimbledon champion said: “It’s not about my experience.

“Coaching is about learning about the player and understanding how he sees himself and what motivates him.

“You first have to understand his heart and mind.

“Novak is profoundly gifted in both departments – so when they work together it’s an explosion of a process that, quite frankly, is remarkable.”

The signs are that Agassi’s philosophical, spiritual approach is starting to flick the right switch.

Ye s t e r d ay, the back-to-form Djokovic – appearing i n a Wimbl e d o n warm-up event for the first time in a decade, defeated Frenchman Gael Monfils 6-3 6-4 in the final of the Aegon Eastbourne International, ending a title drought stretching back 11 months. It was the perfect boost ahead of his challenge to reclaim the SW19 crown he held in 2011, 2014 and 2015. Whatever spills and thrills await over the next fortnight, Agassi will cut a figure of absolute calm in the players’ box – as he did during his debut at the recent French Open. Not that the one-time wild boy of tennis is copying Ivan Lendl, the deadpan coach of Andy Murray. Perish the thought. Agassi, who normally devotes every working hour to his Charitable Foundation for kids in South Neva d a , a d d e d : “I’m j ust being focused. “I’m thinking. “I leave the emotion out of the box because I have a job to do – to understand and get better.” just