Novak Djokovic wants to develop something special with coach Andre Agassi

Whatever benefits Novak Djokovic might derive from Andre Agassi’s coaching here at the French Open, the world No2 will have to enjoy the experience while he can.

Agassi, who started working with Djokovic five days ago after the Serb sacked his coaching team, will be at Roland Garros only until the end of this week. He was courtside yesterday as Djokovic opened his campaign with an emphatic 6-3, 6-4, 6-2 victory over Marcel Granollers and will be on hand for a maximum of just two more matches of the champion’s title defence. “He has to leave, because he has already scheduled some things that he cannot reschedule,” Djokovic said. “I’m going to try to use the time spent with him as best I can.”

Djokovic, who next faces Portugal’s Joao Sousa, is hoping that the arrangement with Agassi can develop into a long-term relationship.

“All good things take a bit of time,” he said. “I’m patient. For us this is a great way to start off our collaboration and friendship and to get to know each other and then see where it takes us.”

Djokovic added: “He says the right things in the right moment. Everything he says is very useful and it definitely makes sense, so I’m trying to implement certain things on the court.”

Agassi has never coached a top player before and Djokovic said he did not expect the American to try to make major changes to his game. “I won’t start to play serve-and-volley or something like that,” Djokovic said. “It’s more about the mindset, because I feel the game I have has got me to where I am for a reason. He feels my game is very much in a good place. It’s just a matter of fine tuning.”

Djokovic has not dropped a set in his three previous meetings with Sousa, who is the world No59. The winner will face either Argentina’s Diego Schwartzman or Italy’s Stefano Napolitano in the third round. If Djokovic continues to progress, his challenges will get much tougher once Agassi has left. Provided the seedings work out he will meet Lucas Pouille in the fourth round, Dominic Thiem in the quarter-finals and Rafael Nadal in the semi-finals. Nadal kicked off his campaign with a straight-sets victory, beating France’s Benoit Paire 6-1, 6-4, 6-1.

The Spaniard acknowledged that he could face a stiff challenge in the second round against Robin Haase.

Nadal said: “Robin and I know each other very well. He’s a dangerous opponent who hits the ball very hard.”