Tennis: Djokovic gets fresh start with Agassi at French Open

Novak Djokovic, right, and Andre Agassi training in Paris. Photo / AP

Serbian star Novak Djokovic hopes his new partnership with American tennis great Andre Agassi offers a fresh start as he launches his French Open title defence without a tour triumph since January.

Usurped from the top of the rankings by Andy Murray last November and a shock second-round loser at the Australian Open, Djokovic enters the second major of the season facing the prospect of also relinquishing the last remaining Grand Slam crown in his possession.

And all this after the Serb departed Paris last year as the first man in almost half a century to complete the non-calendar-year Grand Slam sweep.

But after ending his decade-long union with trusted mentor Marian Vajda, following his split with Boris Becker last December, Djokovic has turned to Agassi to help reverse his fortunes.

"It feels like a new chapter," the 12-time Grand Slam champion said ahead of his Roland Garros opener against Marcel Granollers.

"It feels like the change that I have experienced in the last three, four weeks, separating with the team that I was with for 10 years, and now kind of creating a new team, creating a new vibe, it feels exciting.

"It feels right at this moment because I was, in the last five, six months struggling a little bit on the court and trying to redefine myself and rediscover what kind of approach is the right one.

"I just felt, and my former team, we all felt we needed a change. We need to go our separate ways, so right now I feel much better on the court."

A career Grand Slam winner himself, Agassi's influence is already showing, with Djokovic reaching his first final last week since winning the season opener in Doha.

"I have played a great week in Rome," Djokovic said.

"I was talking with Andre for a couple weeks during Madrid and Rome on the phone, kind of preparing for the matches, analysing matches.

"That allowed both of us to get to know each other and kind of, for him especially, to get closer to my thinking and my mindset about tennis, about life in general, and so forth.

"I was very glad that he accepted to come in person to Paris and spend some time.

"Yesterday was obviously the first day, and we had two practice sessions, and then we had a very, very long conversations in the evening. Even though it was the first day, it felt like we know each other for a very long time. We clicked and connected very fast."

Djokovic hopes Agassi can relight his competitive fire.

"He's someone that inspires me a lot. That's one of the things I felt like I needed, is new inspiration," the 30-year-old said.

"He has been through all these transitions, he has been in my shoes before playing Grand Slams, being the best in the world, and facing all the challenges that are present in tennis, in professional sport.

"So we can relate to each other in many different ways."

Already, though, there is talk Agassi, a committed family man based in Las Vegas with wife Steffi Graf and their two teenage children, won't be around for the long haul.

"That's a question for him, to be honest," Djokovic said. "Because I haven't said anything special to Andre to convince him to work with me."

- AAP