Novak Djokovic's problems continue to pile up, with Andre Agassi severing their coaching relationship and announcing his departure with a parting shot.
After less than a year the American has concluded that an already limited partnership was not working, and allowed the news to filter out via ESPN's commentary team, rather than via player himself.
While offering the usual good wishes to his former client for the future, customary on these occasions, Agassi also felt compelled to say: 'With only the best of intentions I tried to help Novak. We far too often found ourselves agreeing to disagree.'
The two came together prior to the French Open last year, although Agassi always stressed that it was not a full-blown coaching arrangement, even saying that he was working 'on my own dime'. He seemed to be only fitting it in around other commitments, including keeping a close eye on his son's promising baseball career.
Djokovic took the rest of last season off after retiring from his Wimbledon quarter-final. He made the fourth round of the Australian Open in January and then had a minor procedure on his elbow. He returned for this month's Masters events at Indian Wells and Miami but looked completely at odds with himself in losing his opening matches at both events to inferior opposition.