Novak Djokovic splits with coach Andre Agassi as American legend admits: 'We far too often found ourselves agreeing to disagree'

Tennis legend Andre Agassi gives some tips to Novak Djokovic. Photo / Getty

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.

Afterwards he admitted he did not know what his plans were, suggesting he was unsure whether he would feature at the forthcoming Monte Carlo Open, which takes place in his adopted hometown.

He continues to work with former Czech player Radek Stepanek, although he was absent from Miami as well, said to be at home with his partner Nicole Vaidisova (to whom he was once married), who is now expecting their first child.

Stepanek is notably close to Ivan Lendl, who is known to be seeking another coaching role after splitting from Andy Murray in November.

He visited the Miami Open last week - he lives not far up the coast - but perhaps a more likely job would seem to be with Germany's rising star Alex Zverev, who plays John Isner in Sunday's final. Zverev's fitness trainer is Jez Green, who formerly worked closely with Lendl on Team Murray.