Andre Agassi parts ways with Novak Djokovic while Ivan Lendl could return to coaching set-up in new role
Changes are afoot in the world of the supercoach. Even as Andre Agassi steps out of the limelight, resigning from Novak Djokovic’s team, it seems that Ivan Lendl is on his way back.
Agassi has been part of Djokovic’s support staff since last May, whenTelegraph Sport exclusively revealed their partnership. He later admitted: “I do it on my own time and on my own dime.” But their 10-month alliance was finally sundered this week as Agassi told ESPN: “We far too often agreed to disagree.”
It sounds like Agassi is as confused by Djokovic’s fitful commitment and performance level as the rest of us. Having cut last year’s season short after Wimbledon, Djokovic was encouragingly competitive at January’s Australian Open, only to lose back-to-back matches at Indian Wells and Miami in half-hearted style.
During the off-season, Djokovic added Radek Stepanek – the creative Czech player who retired last year – to his team as a coaching assistant. And it will presumably be Stepanek who takes on this intriguing challenge as we move into the busiest part of the tennis season. The first clay-court Masters event will be staged in Monte Carlo – which is also Djokovic’s home – in a fortnight’s time, though he seemed doubtful last weekend about whether he would participate.
Meanwhile Lendl was spotted at Crandon Park on Friday night while Sascha Zverev, the world No 5 from Germany, was overcoming Borna Coric in the Miami Open semi-final. This sounds like an exciting potential signing for Zverev, whose most recent coaching arrangement with the former French Open champion Juan Carlos Ferrero dissolved acrimoniously in January. Ferrero left with a parting shot, saying “Among other things I asked him to be a little more punctual.”
Zverev’s game has been developed by his parents, Alexander Snr and Irina, who were both high-level players in Russia. The whole family, which also includes Sascha’s brother – the world No 55 Mischa Zverev – continues to travel to every tournament together, and the transition to an external coach was bound to be tricky.
But Lendl, who was Andy Murray’s coach throughout his most successful spells on the tour, has established a reputation as someone who can transform a career. This is not to say that Zverev is in crisis: on the contrary, he is widely seen as the man who will take over the world No 1 spot from the reigning group of 30-somethings in the next season or two. He does have an issue at the majors where his deepest run in 11 attempts is an appearance in the fourth round of last year’s Wimbledon.
Zverev will have a chance to impress his prospective mentor on Sunday, when he contests the Miami Open final against American John Isner.
Meanwhile, the reigning US Open champion Sloane Stephens confirmed her return to form by overcoming Jelena Ostapenko – winner of last year’s French Open – 7-6, 6-1 in the final of the women’s Miami Open.
Stephens had suffered a dramatic slump after her shock victory in New York, failing to win a single match in the rest of the 2017 season. After her semi-final victory over Victoria Azarenka, she explained: “I just needed to get myself together. My heart was there but my body physically was not. The most important thing [was] making sure I was taking care of myself.”
Judging by Saturday’s victory, that process is now well in hand. Stephens came in having won all five finals she had played at WTA level, and she maintained that perfect record by despatching Ostapenko. Apart from collecting prizemoney of nearly £960,000, she will also climb to a career high of No9 in Monday’s world rankings.
