'Agassi could bring something special to Djokovic'

Novak Djokovic could be on the verge of "something special" after teaming up with Andre Agassi for the French Open, former Roland Garros runner-up Henri Leconte said on Wednesday.

Djokovic, the defending French Open champion, announced on Sunday that he would have eight-times grand slam champion Agassi in his corner in Paris after parting ways with his coaching team earlier this month.

"It's brand new and good for tennis," Leconte, the last Frenchman to reach the final in 1988, told Reuters.

"I really hope it works because if it does, it could be something special for Novak."

Djokovic and Agassi. Image: Getty

Twelve-times grand slam winner Djokovic ended a three-year partnership with Boris Becker late last year when he lost his world number one status to Andy Murray.

He has struggled to rediscover his best form since winning last year's French Open to complete a career grand slam and this season has seen a run of surprise losses.

Leconte says American Agassi, who came back from a career slump to win the 1999 French Open, could help the 30-year-old find the spark that appears to have been missing.

"I really believe that he can help Novak find his way back to the top," Leconte, who will work as a pundit for Eurosport during the French Open, said.

"Andre has the strength of personality to give Novak advice. He had the experience of coming back after injury problems and other setbacks to come back from 150 in the world to number one.

"It's not about coaching. I think the likes of Novak, Roger (Federer) and Rafa (Nadal) just need something new. A brand new direction. I really hope Novak has enough strength and power to produce what he produced last year."

Djokovic said it is a dream come true to have the tennis great as his coach.

"Having Andre Agassi as a coach is a dream come true, honestly," Djokovic said. "He's someone that I was looking up to when I was younger.

"We have similar styles of game, very similar. He has been considered to be one of the greatest returners of all time and I was relying on return in my game throughout my career a lot. So there are a lot of similarities. But also, in the trajectory throughout the career and him experiencing that drop in the rankings and then coming back from 140, I think, in the world, to number one.

"I guess, experiencing different conditions in his life and facing a lot of challenges and still managing to come out on top and still showing his resilience and strength, that is something I can relate to a lot. He's been through everything I have been through right now, not just right now but throughout my career. He understands the role of being one of the top players.

"He understands how it is to win all the tournaments in the world, because he has won them all. It's an amazing adventure for both of us."

The 30-year-old Serb insisted he is as motivated as ever to add to his 12 slams.

"I love this sport with all my heart, I truly do. I still have a tremendous amount of passion and motivation to do well. As long as I have that flare inside of me, I'll keep going and hopefully make more foot prints," he added.

"I deserve until now or maybe with hopefully success that will come, to be along with the greats in our sport. Of course, that's one of the greatest motivations and privileges that I can have as an athlete, to be mentioned alongside the elite, with Andre Agassi, for example, or Becker, [Pete] Sampras, [Roger] Federer, [Rafael] Nadal, these kinds of players that have made a huge mark in this sport."

with agencies