Agassi and Djokovic: "It Depends On The Chemistry"

[scoop]

By Scoop Malinowski
The newly formed alliance of Andre Agassi and Novak Djokovic could be the all time dream team of pro tennis.
It is the perfect choice, with Djokovic struggling to find his dominant rhythm after a surprising year of subpar results. Agassi experienced his own periods of trial and tribulation during his career, such as when he fell so far down the rankings below the top hundred that he had to go play a Challenger tournament to get back on track.
Djokovic has not slipped that far off the grid – he’s still locked in at no. 2 in the ATP World Tour Rankings – but his game has appeared ineffective and even ordinary at the elite level lately.
Agassi should be able to solve the physical issues that are plaguing Djokovic with his vast background of experience. For anyone who has listened to Agassi speak about tennis on any of his rare TV broadcasting appearances it’s more than clear he could be a huge benefit to any player.
Being away from tennis for the last decade (he retired in 2006 at the US Open) you have to think Agassi is reinvigorated and excited to face new challenges in tennis. Why else would he want to be a coach?
There is no other motive than to succeed. To be a winner. To find a way to inspire and uplift Djokovic back to his perch atop the ATP.
The Djokovic play style seems perfectly suited for Agassi to work with. Excellent ground game supported by supreme return of serve and solid serving and underrated volleys. It will be fascinating to see what refinements and enhancements Agassi will mold into Djokovic.
Agassi is on the record as an avid believer in the Djokovic playing style. In January of this year Agassi shared a few thoughts about Djokovic to Tom Allnut of the Independent:
“I give him a high chance of coming back in a hurry,” Agassi said about Djokovic’s 2016 fall from grace. “There’s no reason why it can’t turn around as fast as it seems to have left him. We all have our own unique journey. I hit rock bottom over the course of two years and I can assure you Novak won’t have to learn in as hard a way as I had to learn but he still has time. He’s a heck of an athlete and in my opinion one of the greats of all time.”

Agassi’s sister Rita believes her brother can provoke success in Djokovic. “It depends on the chemistry” she said. “I think it will work.”

 

[Carol]

In 2014 Agassi said that Nadal should be considered the GOAT, later when Rafa was riding the 'roller coaster' he though that Rafa maybe couldn't come back and now he says he was wrong and watching the last AO final he would have liked both players winning.
I suppose that he is now helping Novak to find out how he could defend his title and how to beat the best clay player man of the history? will he get it? sincerely I hope not

https://www.washingtonpost.com/news...er-than-roger-federer/?utm_term=.24ed34e135d6

 

[Front242]

Novak doesn't need Agassi to tell him how to beat Nadal. He's done it many times and 7 straight before his recent loss. His problem is he hasn't been playing well. That's all.

 

[Carol]

Nope, just in 2011 when Nadal match by match had the WORST serve but I can't say that he played bad but I also have to say that Novak took that year all the players by surprise including Federer. 2013 the papers changed but later the problem was that Rafa didn't play well, I mean he played horrible due to his injuries and so lack of confidence, that's all

 

[DarthFed]

In 2014 Agassi said that Nadal should be considered the GOAT, later when Rafa was riding the 'roller coaster' he though that Rafa maybe couldn't come back and now he says he was wrong and watching the last AO final he would have liked both players winning.
I suppose that he is now helping Novak to find out how he could defend his title and how to beat the best clay player man of the history? will he get it? sincerely I hope not

https://www.washingtonpost.com/news...er-than-roger-federer/?utm_term=.24ed34e135d6

Much like other commentators/experts I think his tune has changed or if not it likely will in a year or two.

 

[Carol]

Much like other commentators/experts I think his tune has changed or if not it likely will in a year or two.

We'll see

 

[DarthFed]

^ Yes, we shall The points he makes in the article have some major revisionist history anyways.

 

[scoop]

It's a tough job for Andre because anything less than defending the title is a failure. Andre putting himself on the firing line from the get go.

 

[scoop]

Kerber and Andy are playing abysmal tennis for two no 1s. Never seen a no 1 player in the world struggle so mightily. Kerber should consider donating the no 1 ranking to no 2 and just try to get back on track that way

 

[Moxie]

It's a tough job for Andre because anything less than defending the title is a failure. Andre putting himself on the firing line from the get go.

But he can't possibly get the blame if Novak doesn't repeat in Paris. I don't know how much he can be expected to do in a couple of weeks, with a few sage words of advice and motivation. However, should Nole pull it off, Andre will look like a miracle worker, and his coaching rate would go way up.

 

[Carol]

According to Agassi he will be with Novak just for one or two matches.......odd

 

[scoop]

No Moxie, Andre will not get the blame if Djokovic does not repeat but it will still be a failure in his coaching cap. Just like Connors' coaching career ended after Sharapova dismissed him after one day which was not fair and not an accurate assessment of Connors coaching ability. Tennis coaches are not always treated fairly by players and media. It's unfortunate how no player will touch Connors since Sharapova.

 

[scoop]

Carol; Reading between those lines it would seem the chemistry between Agassi and Djokovic is not working? One or two matches would be a failure.

 

[scoop]

Kerber enjoyed getting to the top not staying at the top. Very few freaks like Serena Graf Seles want to and manage to stay at the top. For most female players it's more "normal" to get to the top then drop back down into the mix.

 

[mrzz]

In my book, if Djokovic wins credit is 100% to him. If he looses, I blame 90% the witch doctor and 10% Agassi just because I don´t like him.

 

[scoop]

In my book if Djokovic doesn't win I blame Querrey and Vesely and F Lopez because since those losses last year Djokovic'c confidence hasn't been the same.

 

[britbox]

Djokovic talks some Agassi...

 

[britbox]

Carol; Reading between those lines it would seem the chemistry between Agassi and Djokovic is not working? One or two matches would be a failure.

I'm not sure this hire has long term legs Scoop. Andre has a lot of things going on outside - family, his academy... and outside of putting his name on a Udemy tennis course doesn't really seem to have to have shown much inclination to get involved in coaching. Also, he's US Based and Novak is Europe based. I can't see this being anything other than a short term hire.

 

[scoop]

Do WTA players need scouting reports? Don't they all play the same?

 

[scoop]

I asked Sock in miami before the loss to Rafa if he thought a different voice would help him take it to the next level and he Hahn had taken him this far and he was already beating top five players (beat Kei in IW) and he felt Hahn was enough but that Sock opinion could have changed since march. I think he needs a super coach and should dismiss Hahn.