Andre Agassi is one of tennis’ most decorated and celebrated figures, and has continued to succeed following his retirement.
After all, whether it be punditry or coaching, the 55-year-old has remained a triumph, as one of the sport’s most affable individuals, with genuine insight and curiosity in abundance.
However, his short-lived stint as Novak Djokovic’s coach was not so plentiful, and after just under a year, he was relieved of his duties.
Andre Agassi admitted shortly afterwards that, whilst he was disappointed, he had no regrets.
During the spell, he actually revealed what had surprised him most about the 24-time Grand Slam champion, whilst there was still hope that their partnership might bear fruit.
What Andre Agassi said about coaching Novak Djokovic
Chatting with Tennis365 back in 2018, just after Agassi said if he felt women should play best-of-five set matches, he turned his attention to the Serbian superstar.
After all, the two will forever remain linked, even if his spell coaching Djokovic only lasted a year.
Speaking during that period, and why he was left shocked by the experience, the American superstar admitted: “He is intense about everything, including relaxing! He takes everything very seriously. Even when he chills out, he is determined to make the most of that time.
“What surprises me most is his intellectual capacity off the court and how little he thinks on the court. You see him off the court and he thinks through everything, but on the court he tends to feel his way through matches.
“I analysed a lot on the tennis court and felt my way through life off the court. He is the exact opposite. The guy is really smart and it shocks you how much he remembers and the details.
“If he is looking for information, he reads, studies and takes so much in. It has been fun getting to know him and working out what makes him tick and to help him on his objectives.
“Some players find it hard to get back to the top when they have had a dip in form, but in Novak’s case, I think he can get back there. He is aged 30, but his body is still in the condition of a 25-year-old.”
Why Andre Agassi and Novak Djokovic split
Having taken up the post as Djokovic’s coach mid-way through 2017, he actually underwent one of the most barren periods at the majors of his career under the watchful eye of the legendary American.
After all, he was brought in right before the 2017 French Open, and failed to make it to the semi-final of the next four majors that he featured in.
It is worth mentioning that this coincided with a persisting elbow injury, which saw him retire injured from Wimbledon before he underwent surgery in early 2018.
Novak Djokovic would be the undisputed GOAT if he won Grand Slam number 25 – could anyone argue otherwise?
Clearly unhappy with the progress made, the 24-time Grand Slam champion had to make a change, and Agassi was the unfortunate victim of that necessity.
Speaking in April 2018, he admitted: “With only the best intentions, I tried to help Novak. We far too often found ourselves agreeing to disagree.”
