Djokovic could have new coach before French Open

Madrid - World number two Novak Djokovic says he could have a new coach in place as soon as the French Open in less than a fortnight.

The 12-time Grand Slam champion ended his long and successful relationship with Marian Vajda last week in an attempt to reverse his dramatic slump in form since winning Roland Garros last year.

"I'm going to think about who I want in my team," the Serb said on Wednesday.

"Right now I don't have anyone yet, but I think by the French Open or after the French Open I (am) already going to have someone."

Djokovic squeezed past Nicolas Almagro 6-1, 4-6, 7-5 in his first match since parting with Vajda in the second round of the Madrid Masters on Wednesday.

And the 29-year-old restated his intention to follow the trend of hiring a highly successful former player with eight-time Grand Slam champion Andre Agassi rumoured to be a potential candidate to succeed Vajda.

"I would like to have ideally someone who fits into the profile of a person that was kind of in my shoes before, that has been winning Grand Slams," said Djokovic.

"There are not too many of those kind of champions in the history of the sport.

"I guess it's normal that people start coming up with names. I can't talk more than that."

The French Open starts on May 22.