American tennis star Marcos Giron had a very special guest in his box for his victory over Mariano Navone at Indian Wells: Andre Agassi.
The eight-time Grand Slam champion watched on as Giron came from a set down to secure his place in the second round of Indian Wells.
Agassi has returned to tennis recently, by becoming the Laver Cup captain and making a special appearance at the Rio Open.
Following Giron’s victory at Indian Wells, the American revealed the coaching he’d received from Agassi.
How Andre Agassi has been coaching Marcos Giron
Many were surprised to see Agassi in Giron’s box at Indian Wells, but his daughter is part of the American’s fitness team.
Agassi has seen up close the potential of Giron and he’s offered guidance along the way.
Speaking about their collaboration, Giron noted after the match: “You don’t want to let him down if he’s coming out and supporting you.
If you were in charge of tennis, what is the first rule you would change?
“You definitely want to put on a good performance. After losing the first there’s part of me like, ‘You can’t lose’.
“That would kind of suck if he comes out and you don’t perform well. But he just wants players to be the best of themselves.
“I know that winning or losing, it’s not about that even though you want to do it. But it’s what can you really do in the real time. It’s pretty crazy. I couldn’t imagine 10 years ago that I’d be playing here at Indian Wells and he’d be there in the box on Stadium 4 watching me play first round of the tournament.”
Giron shared the details he has been gifted by his relationship with Agassi, on and off the tennis court.
“He sees the game on levels. He can dive into all those details. But during the match, it depends on what’s needed. Usually it’s more about just being present and the few adjustments to go for.
“And so I am fortunate to have a very good relationship with him, and he’s been so kind with sharing his opinion.
“It’s been really good. One thing is hearing it, but another is learning to apply it. He’s special. He’s got a special mind.”
Giron will face a difficult second round test against Jakub Mensik next at Indian Wells, which is set to be played on Friday, 6th March.
What Andre Agassi has said about becoming a full-time coach
Agassi might have helped guide Giron, but don’t expect to see the American great in a full-time position anytime soon.
In a recent interview with New Balls Please, Agassi said he doesn’t see a big commitment coming anytime soon.
What is your bold prediction for the 2026 tennis season?
He revealed: “I do a lot of helping that people don’t know, when it comes to players. But travelling and this sort of thing is a little tough. Coaching requires a bandwidth and a lot of time.
“I even make the argument that sometimes you can be more help from a distance, as you can become a sense of reason and objectivity. You can give them perspective that keeps somebody pointed towards their own north star.”
Agassi has worked with the likes of Novak Djokovic, Grigor Dimitrov, and Holger Rune since retiring from tennis.
