The Courier & Advertiser (Angus and Dundee)
Djokovic ‘really enjoying’ coaching partnership with Agassi
Novak Djokovic made a winning start to his partnership with Andre Agassi and is keen to soak up as much knowledge as he can before the American heads back home.
Agassi has been tempted into coaching for the first time by the defending French Open champion but must leave Paris before the tournament finishes.
Agassi impassively watched Djokovic’s 6-3 6-4 6-2 win over Marcel Granollers, a performance the second seed later described as a bit “rusty”.
Djokovic and Agassi have been testing the partnership out this week, and the Serbian has already seen enough to know he wants it to continue.
“He’s going to stay, I hope, until the end of this week,” Djokovic said. “Then he has to leave because he has some things that he cannot reschedule.
“I’m going to try to use the time spent with him as best as we can.
“So far plenty of information, plenty of things to process. I’m really enjoying it.”
Djokovic split from his long-time team last month as he sought answers to the slump that has seen him struggle since adding a fourth consecutive Grand Slam title here last year.
Djokovic, who plays Portugal’s Joao Sousa in round two, added: “He says the right things in the right moment.
“Everything he says, it’s very useful for me. And it definitely makes sense.”
Rafael Nadal followed Djokovic into the second round as he began his quest for a 10th French Open title with a straightforward 6-1 6-4 6-1 victory over Benoit Paire.
“For me, it’s important to serve a little bit better than what I did today.
“The rest of the things I am happy with,” the Spaniard said.
Fifth seed Milos Raonic was a 6-3 6-4 6-2 winner over Steve Darcis. Marin Cilic and David Goffin, also came through in straight sets, but David Ferrer needed four sets to defeat America’s Donald Young.
Fourteenth seed Jack Sock was dumped out by Jiri Vesely but there was an emotional two-day win for his fellow American Steve Johnson, who defeated Yuichi Sugita in five sets. Johnson’s father, also called Steve, died suddenly earlier this month at the age of just 58.