"Novak is physically extraordinary and he has a recovery ability that is unlike mine, probably just because the nature of how his body is made and how efficient he is"
Thursday 24 May 2018 14:25, UK
Andre Agassi says Novak Djokovic is "unique" and "physically extraordinary" as the Serb dreams of landing a seventh Australian Open title.
Djokovic arrived in Melbourne having not played a competitive match for six months and with question marks over his elbow injury.
He played two rounds in Melbourne with a re-modelled serving action to take the pressure off the joint, but the 30-year-old has still managed his way through wearing a compression sleeve on his serving arm.
The 12-time Grand Slam champion was put through his paces during a four-set win over Gael Monfils in brutal heat on Thursday and former world No 1 Agassi has become a firm believer that he can emulate Roger Federer by winning the Australian Open in his first tournament for six months.
"If you haven't played for a long time, anything that isn't quite the centrepiece of your game, can go through a bit of a challenge," said Agassi, who flew in to be in Djokovic's corner before the start of the tournament.
"With a new service motion and the pressure and the big match and not playing in a while, that was the time for it to get tested and, getting through it, he'll be a lot better for it moving forward."
Djokovic had not played a competitive match before his first-round clash with American Donald Young and while that was a breeze, his clash with Monfils in 40 degrees heat proved to Agassi that he is ready to take on the very best in the game.
"Recovery is not something I worry about with him," said Agassi. "Novak is physically extraordinary and he has a recovery ability that is unlike mine, probably just because the nature of how his body is made and how efficient he is.
"The guy has a capacity for pushing himself that is unique."
