Stepanek joins Djokovic coaching team

Recently retired Radek Stepanek is joining Andre Agassi to coach Novak Djokovic for the 2018 season.

Djokovic hired Agassi in May to work with him at the grand slams but has been without a touring coach since splitting from longtime mentor Marian Vajda the same month.

Czech Stepanek, 39, called time on his playing career in November after struggling to recover following back surgery.

He reached a career high world No 8 in singles in 2006 and won two grand slam doubles titles and two Davis Cups.

The pair announced the arrangement in a live post on Instagram, where they pretended to talk about the possibility of Stepanek coaching Djokovic before the Serb opened a door to reveal the new member of his team.

Djokovic said: “This is the new team, this is my new man. We are excited for the new season.”

Djokovic and Stepanek will begin work together in Monte Carlo, where the former world No 1 lives, in the coming days as he prepares to come back from an elbow injury.

“Radek is one of my very close friends and I was always impressed with his level of determination, passion and love for the sport,” said Djokovic on novakdjokovic.com

“He has a lot of experience and knowledge, and he has played on a high level for many years. I am excited to join our forces together and cannot wait to compete again having a new team to back me up.

“On Andre’s suggestion I pursued Radek, therefore I am sure the two of them will work well together. The new season is about to start and there is a long way to go back to where I left off.

“We are aware that I need to go step by step.” — © The Daily Telegraph, London