Novak Djokovic benefiting from Andre Agassi help after changing coaching staff
Tuesday 30 May 2017 14:46, UK
Novak Djokovic says the decision to begin working with Andre Agassi came after he realised something had to change with his approach to the game.
The 12-time grand slam champion parted company with his entire coaching team earlier this month, admitting he needed to rediscover his spark after some disappointing results this year, including a second-round exit at the Australian Open.
Djokovic, without a tour title since January, parted company with Boris Becker in December and mentor Marian Vajda earlier this month.
He subsequently invited Agassi to work with him during the defence of his French Open title, which begins against clay specialist Marcel Granollers on Monday.
"Last year, I started to feel I had to change something," Djokovic told L'Equipe.
"My body was changing, too. I did not think days would come when you feel different. Even if I feel fit, young and I take care of my body, I am 30 years old now.
"I need to take a different approach in terms of energy management. I need to prioritise. I felt like I need to explore new things.
"I connected with him [Agassi] very quickly. I saw that there were similarities in the ways we think.
"Most of his career, he worked thinking winning on court was the only thing that would satisfy him and make him happy. But he was not. He described this very well, saying he did not like tennis, that he often had the feeling if was being forced to play tennis.
"Maybe I don't have the exact same feeling but I can refer to it."
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