Novak Djokovic hopes Goran Ivanisevic can propel him towards a fifth Wimbledon title and beyond.
World number one Djokovic has recruited former SW19 winner Ivanisevic to work alongside coach Marian Vajda as they plot his assault on this year's championships.
Djokovic won six grand slam titles when he was coached by three-time Wimbledon champion Boris Becker, and he wants to harness the experience of another course and distance winner over the next fortnight.
"I called Goran and asked him whether he's available to come to Wimbledon and sort of give it a try, and have a little bit of a trial type of tournament where we get to know each other and see how it works," said Djokovic.
"I'm really glad he accepted and came over. I don't know if he will be able to stay for the whole tournament, it depends how I go. He's got some commitments in the second week.
"But everything so far has been working really well. We've known each other for a long time. It didn't take too much time for us to really feel comfortable one next to another.
"I've seen him around in the last seven, eight years a lot because he coached three top players that I've played against many times. It's nice to have him on my side of the net this time.
"I spoke to Marian. We both agreed that we were looking for someone that was a former champion, someone that knows how I feel on the court, someone that has been through that.
"We agreed with the concept, the idea of introducing a new coach to our team, an addition like Boris Becker was few years ago.
"It was a very successful period with Boris. We're hoping we can have the same with Goran."
The new team got off to a winning start, despite a wobble or two, as defending champion Djokovic wore down Germany's Philipp Kohlschreiber in three sets.
The Serbian, widely expected to enjoy another trouble-free run to this year's final, dropped serve at the start of the first two sets but recovered from those early blips to run out a 6-3 7-5 6-3 winner.
After blotting his copy book in game one, order was restored as Djokovic broke straight back, and he repeated the trick on his way to taking the first set in 38 minutes.
The touch of a champion. 👌 @DjokerNole | #Wimbledon 🎥: @Wimbledonpic.twitter.com/0AuftYhANH — ATP Tour (@ATP_Tour) July 1, 2019
The second set began in identical fashion, Kohlschreiber breaking the Djokovic serve only to immediately drop his own.
Kohlschreiber, who beat Djokovic earlier this year in Indian Wells, fended off three break points to hold for 4-4, but the 15-time grand-slam winner stepped up a notch and found a way through at the end of the set.
It was a valiant effort from 35-year-old Kohlschreiber, but as Djokovic settled into the match suddenly points against his serve were becoming increasingly scarce.
The 32-year-old cranked up the pressure and two breaks from 3-3 in the third ensured he prevailed in just over two hours to set up a meeting with American world number 111 Denis Kudla in round two.
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