Andre Agassi reveals the advice he once gave to Novak Djokovic which he’s started to listen to recently

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Andre Agassi enjoyed a legendary tennis career becoming world number one and winning eight Grand Slam titles.

The American star was the best around for quite some time, holding the ATP number one ranking for 101 weeks.

During his career, Agassi completed the Golden Slam, a rare feat only three men have accomplished in singles.

To complete the Golden Slam, you must win all four Majors and an Olympic Gold medal.

Agassi completed the Golden Slam when he won the 1999 French Open, taking down Ukraine’s Andrei Medvedev in the final.

Spain’s Rafael Nadal became the second Golden Slam winner when he took home the US Open title in 2010, before Novak Djokovic joined him when he won Olympic Gold in 2024.

Speaking recently, Agassi recalled the advice he once gave Djokovic that he thinks the Serb applied during his triumph at the Olympic Games last year.

Andre Agassi thinks Novak Djokovic has listened to his advice and is playing with ‘complete conviction’

Working as a member of the media team at TNT Sports, Agassi revealed what he once told the 24-time Major champion.

“What I told him was, you don’t need anybody. Like, this is a figment of your imagination, because what you need to do is you need to get out on the court, you need to bring the curtain down, the lockdown version of yourself down,” he said.

“It’s obvious you have to feel a little bit of pain before you get engaged, and then you need to be quick to let that show just a little earlier as you get older.”

Agassi believes Djokovic listened to that advice recently at the 2024 Olympic Games.

“I think he’s starting to do it,” he said.

“When you look at him play [Carlos] Alcaraz right here on this court for the Olympic Finals. I mean, he came out with conviction.

“There is nothing better to have on a tennis court than complete conviction.”

Djokovic was imperious in Paris one year ago, clinching the title without dropping a set.

• 2024 Olympics F – Novak Djokovic beat Carlos Alcaraz, 7-6, 7-6
• 2024 Olympics SF – Novak Djokovic beat Lorenzo Musetti, 6-4, 6-2
• 2024 Olympics QF – Novak Djokovic beat Stefanos Tsitsipas, 6-3, 7-6
• 2024 Olympics 3R – Novak Djokovic beat Dominik Koepfer, 7-5, 6-3
• 2024 Olympics 2R – Novak Djokovic beat Rafael Nadal, 6-1, 6-4
• 2024 Olympics 1R – Novak Djokovic beat Matthew Ebden, 6-0, 6-1

His win over Alcaraz in the final was one of his best in recent memory, taking down the young Spaniard in two tiebreakers.

Only Djokovic will know if he remembered Agassi’s advice that day, but no one can deny he played with some real ‘conviction’ on his way to the title.

What happened when Andre Agassi coached Novak Djokovic?

Agassi had plenty of time to give Djokovic advice in 2017, when the American began coaching him.

After splitting with long-time coach Marian Vajda, Djokovic announced Agassi’s arrival ahead of the French Open.

A quarterfinal exit in Paris at the hands of Dominic Thiem saw Djokovic and Agassi quickly turn their attentions toward the grass.

At the Eastbourne International, a Wimbledon warm-up tournament, Djokovic won his sole title with Agassi as his coach.

Moving on to Wimbledon, Djokovic looked to be in great shape to win the title, reaching the last eight without dropping a single set.

His title hopes were dashed during the second set of his quarterfinal, however, retiring with an elbow injury against Tomas Berdych.

Djokovic then chose to skip the rest of the season, looking to heal up ahead of his 2018 campaign.

In theory, the plan made sense, although the injury remained an issue during the early months of the 2018 season as Djokovic suffered several shock defeats.

• 2018 Australian Open – Novak Djokovic lost in 4R to Hyeon Chung
• 2018 Indian Wells – Novak Djokovic lost in 2R to Taro Daniel
• 2018 Miami Open – Novak Djokovic lost in 2R to Benoit Paire

It was during the Miami Open that Djokovic and Agassi parted ways after less than a year.

Working together, the pair reached two Grand Slam quarterfinals, losing them both, picking up just the one title, at the ATP 250 level.

Reuniting with Vajda shortly after, Djokovic quickly returned to his best, winning both Wimbledon and the US Open to end 2018 on a high.

It may not have worked out for Djokovic and Agassi together, but if the 38-year-old did remember his advice en route to the Olympic title last year, perhaps it was worth it after all.