Agassi splits with coach Gilbert

Former world number one Andre Agassi has split with his coach Brad Gilbert by mutual agreement after eight years, the player said on Wednesday.

With Gilbert as his coach, Agassi won six grand slam titles, a gold medal at the 1996 Olympics, and finished the 1999 season ranked number one in the world.

"Brad is clearly the greatest coach of all time. I have been lucky to have him as my guiding force during the past eight years of my career," Agassi said in a statement.

"More importantly, I am lucky that I have been able to call him a friend for eight years and that our friendship remains intact."

The pair began working together in 1994 and their relationship is one of the most successful player/coach tandems in tennis history.

"One of the biggest highlights of my 22 years in professional tennis has been spent coaching one of the greatest players of all time, Andre Agassi," Gilbert said.

"After eight amazing years, we have decided on equal terms to end our professional coaching status and remain the best of friends."

Defending Australian Open champion Agassi pulled out of the season's first grand slam tournament in Melbourne with a wrist injury earlier this month.