French Open: Djokovic, Agassi partnership off to winning start

So far, so good in the Novak Djokovic-Andre Agassi partnership.

Okay, so it has only been one match but the Serb ensured a solid start to the high-profile collaboration when he beat Marcel Granollers 6-3 6-4 6-2 in the first round of the French Open.

Indeed, it was just about the perfect start for the defending champion. He was tested – playing nearly two-and-a-half hours – but also went through in straight sets on a hot, blustery day in southwest Paris. The conditions countered last year’s first week – nippy, wet and generally unpleasant for all involved.

Djokovic turned to the retired eight-time grand slam winner on the eve of the year’s second major after admitting he had been in “crisis” for much of the last 10 months.

He said he had come away “impressed” after reading Agassi’s controversial autobiography, ‘Open,’ in which the American revealed he failed a drug test for crystal meth – then lied to the ATP about how it got into his system – never liked tennis growing up and discussed his failed marriage to actress Brooke Shields.

In Tuesday's showpiece clash, world No. 1 Andy Murray defied the doubters and his torrid start to the clay-court season, beating Russian Andrey Kuznetsov (6-4 4-6 6-2 6-0) to reach round two.

After years blighted by injury, Juan Martin del Potro beat fellow Argentine Guido Pella (6-2 6-1 6-4) in the former US Open champion's first match at Roland Garros since 2012.

Former champion Stan Wawrinka overcame Slovakian Jozef Kovalik with a straight-sets victory 6-2 7-6 (8-6) 6-3.

But promising 20-year-old talent Alexander Zverev -- the ninth seed -- was beaten by world No. 37 Fernando Verdasco in four sets (6-4, 3-6, 6-4, 6-2)

Kei Nishikori proved too strong for Australian Thanasi Kokkinakis over on court one, surviving an early scare to win 4-6, 6-1, 6-4, 6-4.

Novak Djokovic is already safely through to the second round, courtesy of a straight sets 6-3 6-4 6-2 victory against Spanish 31-year-old Marcel Granollers.

The Serb has a new so-called "super coach" at the helm in eight-time grand slam champion Andre Agassi, but that didn't stop former coach Boris Becker turning up in the player's box during the third set.

Djokovic could meet Rafa Nadal in this year's semifinals. The "King of Clay" is in search of a 10th French Open title and moved one step closer with a convincing 6-1 6-4 6-1 win against Frenchman Beno?t Paire. "The most important thing is to win," said the Spaniard. "If it's in three [sets], it's better."

Big serving Canadian Milos Raonic joined Nadal and Djokovic in the second round, seeing off Belgium's Steve Darcis 6-3 6-4 6-2. The world No. 6 has never advanced beyond the last eight at the year's second major.

Belgian No. 1 David Goffin eased past Frenchman Paul-Henri Mathieu 6-2 6-2 6-2 on Court 1.

Spain's Garbine Muguruza began the defense of her French Open crown in style, beating former champion Francesca Schiavone 6-2 6-4.

"I cannot believe in the first round we have two ex-champions!" enthused Muguruza. "Francesca is a legend and I was very excited to play on Philippe Chatrier court with her." The women's draw is wide open in the absence of Serena Williams, Victoria Azarenka and Maria Sharapova.

A day earlier, Angelique Kerber suffered the indignity of becoming the first top seeded woman to be defeated in the opening round of the French Open as she suffered a surprise straight-sets loss to Russia's Ekaterina Makarova.

But it's so far so good for Djokovic-Agassi... Who will win the French Open? Have your say tweeting @CNNSport.

French Open: The best of the action from the first round in pictures

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“So many things at the time, when I personally read it, were quite shocking,” Djokovic told reporters. “But what I was very impressed about was his honesty and transparency and willingness to share his life’s experience that one human being goes through.

“Even though sometimes the top athletes are regarded as perfect people, flawless people, it’s not like that. We all have our flaws.

“And what I think made him different from maybe others is that he was willing to share those flaws and really allowing people to understand that we all go through those moments.”

After becoming the first man since Rod Laver in 1969 to win four straight majors – he capped the achievement at Roland Garros 12 months ago to complete the career grand slam – Djokovic slumped badly by his standards. He surrendered his No. 1 ranking to Andy Murray, admitting to a loss of motivation and “private” issues that he hasn’t elaborated on.

Serbia's Novak Djokovic kisses his trophy after winning the men's final match against Britain's Andy Murray at the Roland Garros 2016 French Tennis Open in Paris on June 5, 2016. / AFP / MARTIN BUREAU (Photo credit should read MARTIN BUREAU/AFP/Getty Images)

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Related video Djokovic on his 'slump' and Roland Garros

His reign at the Australian Open came to an end in abrupt fashion in January, bundled aside by wildcard Denis Istomin in the second round, and days before naming Agassi as his new coach parted company with virtually his entire entourage including longtime, influential coach Marian Vajda.

Agassi looked on from the player’s box on court Philippe Chatrier on Monday, smiling when his charge won an epic 38-shot rally in the first set. He was later greeted by Djokovic’s former co-coach, Boris Becker, another retired multiple grand slam winner.

Andre Agassi (left), new coach of Novak Djokovic, speaks with Boris Becker on day two at Roland Garros

“It’s obviously the first match that he has watched, courtside from the box, role of a coach, so it was very interesting for me to experience and feel what I’m going to feel on the court when that’s happening,” Djokovic said.

There was never any real danger of Djokovic being upset in the first round of a grand slam for the first time since the 2006 Australian Open – Granollers, who likes a grunt or two, had won a combined 10 games in their three prior encounters – yet Djokovic needed nine set points to put away the Spaniard in the second set.

Ever the gracious sportsman, Djokovic exchanged a high five with Granollers when the latter struck a winner off a fine drop shot in the third.

He’ll no doubt be exchanging high fives – at the least – with Agassi if he repeats at Roland Garros and becomes the first man in the Open Era to win each of the majors twice. However Agassi is expected to leave Paris after the first week due to prior commitments.

To win again, Djokovic will likely have to go through Rafael Nadal, the tournament favorite. They are in the same half of the draw.

READ: Inside tennis’ locker rooms

READ: Kvitova’s winning return

Chasing a “Decima” or 10th crown at the French Open, Nadal also progressed in straight sets over a less predictable foe, Benoit Paire, 6-1 6-4 6-1.

Paire owns a world-class backhand – not to mention racket throw – but consistency isn’t a strength. The Frenchman failed to protect a break lead in the second set.

While Djokovic embarks on a new chapter with Agassi, Nadal, in one way, is closing a chapter with his main coach, his uncle Toni, at Roland Garros: He isn’t expected to travel with Nadal in 2018. Rather, he’ll spend more time training younger players at Nadal’s academy in Mallorca, Spain.

2017 is turning out to be a bit of an annus horribilis for Novak Djokovic. Ahead of the French Open he teamed with Andre Agassi as the Serb looked for coaching guidance from the American tennis great. But Djokovic crashed out of the French Open after he was crushed by Dominic Thiem 7-6 (7-5) 6-3 6-0 in the quarterfinals.

In May 2017, Novak Djokovic parted ways with his entire coaching team in a bid to rediscover his "winning spark." Scroll through the gallery to see who has been part of the Serb's coaching team over the years.

Nikola Pilic (1999-2003) —

A French Open finalist in 1973, Nikola "Niki" Pili? went on to become the first captain to win the David Cup trophy for three different nations. The Croatian coached a teenage Djokovic at his tennis academy in Oberschleissheim, Germany.

Dejan Petrovic (2004-2005) —

Djokovic was coached by Dejan Petrovi? from the age of 16, moving over 200 places up the rankings into the ATP top 100 inside a year. Petrovi?, an Australian-born Serb, also coached 2008 French Open winner Ana Ivanovic from 2014 to 2015.

Riccardo Piatti (2005-2006) —

Italian tennis coach Riccardo Piatti divided his time between working with Djokovic and former world No. 3 Ivan Ljubi?i?. Despite only coaching Djokovic until the Serb was 18, Piatti claimed he always knew his protege was destined for greatness because he "battled so hard."

Marián Vajda (2006-2017) —

Former Czechoslovakia tennis player Marián Vajda coached Djokovic for over a decade, guiding his charge to 12 grand slam titles. The two parted ways in May 2017 as Djokovic sought "shock therapy" and a fresh direction ahead of the French Open.

Mark Woodforde (2007) —

Alongside Vajda, Djokovic worked with Australian 12-time grand slam doubles champion Mark Woodforde during the spring hard-court season in 2007, honing his volleys and net play.

Todd Martin (2009-2010) —

With his first major under his belt -- the 2008 Australian Open -- Djokovic turned to American former world No. 4 in the summer of 2009. The pairing ceased when the Serb lost his opening match of the Miami Masters after Martin had tried and failed to rejuvenate the Djokovic serve.

Gebhard Phil-Gritsch (2009-2017) —

Djokovic hired German fitness coach Gebhard Phil-Gritsch (R) in the spring of 2009 having identified conditioning as a weakness in his game. The two worked together until May 2017.

Igor ?etojevi? (2010-2011) —

The most transformational figure in Djokovic's illustrious career was arguably not a coach but a nutritionist. Dr. Igor Cetojevic instructed the Serb to undertake a gluten-free diet, immediately alleviating his breathing problems and bringing spectacular results.

Boris Becker (2013-2016) —

Djokovic appointed six-time grand slam champion Boris Becker head coach in December 2013, citing him as a "true legend." It would become a fruitful partnership, with Djokovic winning six major titles in three years.

'The time of our life' —

They ended their arrangement in December 2016, capping a tumultuous year for Djokovic, who released a statement saying: "I will make all future decisions." Becker, in the aftermath of the announcement, posted on Twitter: "Thank you! We had the time of our life."

Andre Agassi (2017) —

When Djokovic ended his longstanding relationship with Vajda in May 2017, it appeared he was ready to go alone. But ahead of his French Open title defense, the 30-year-old turned to yet another so-called "super coach," approaching Agassi later that month and citing his "tremendous respect" for the American.

The coaching arrangements of Novak Djokovic in photos

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Muguruza avoids upset

A day after Angelique Kerber became the first No. 1 player to lose in the first round of the French Open in the Open Era, defending champion Garbine Muguruza avoided the upset bug when Nadal’s compatriot defeated 2010 winner Francesca Schiavone 6-2 6-4.

With an ankle injury to the in-form Simona Halep and the absence of the pregnant Serena Williams, the women’s field appears to be wide open.

One of the contenders, France’s Kristina Mladenovic, barely survived the first round. A back injury troubled the 13th seed but she rallied to defeat American Jennifer Brady 3-6 6-3 9-7 in three hours.

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Karolina Pliskova didn’t enjoy a fruitful clay-court swing but the Czech is – unlike some of her seeded colleagues – healthy and the second-seed dispatched China’s Zheng Saisai 7-5 6-2.