Japanese No.1 Kei Nishikori announced Wednesday afternoon that he has hired former World No. 2 Michael Chang has his part-time coach. Chang will join Nishikori’s coaching staff for 17-20 weeks in 2014.

Excited to announce an addition to the team. Michael Chang will join us in 2014. Dante will remain the full… http://t.co/q1u6vjyAyP

— Kei Nishikori (@keinishikori) December 11, 2013

 

Chang has already been a part of Nishikori’s camp for the past two weeks as they have been training in California. The Japanese star reached a high of World no. 11 this season but had a disappointing finish as he was unable to reach the semi-final of any tournament after winning the title in Memphis in February and consequently dropped to No. 17 in the Emirates rankings.

Chang earned the title as the youngest man to win a Grand Slam singles title when he won the French Open in 1989 at age 17. Now 41 years old, the American will be an advisory coach to Nishikori alongside full-time coach Dante Bottini.