7163EB76-99FE-4FD0-8160-BB27AAACFD41

By Richard Pagliaro
© Tony Chang/Chang Photography
© Andy Kentla

(July 26, 2010) Roger Federer will spend the coming days in a test pattern. The 16-time Grand Slam champion will work with coach Paul Annacone during a "test period" in which the pair will decide if they to pursue a more permanent coaching relationship.

Annacone, best known for coaching 14-time Grand Slam champion Pete Sampras, is finishing up his contract with the Lawn Tennis Association. For now, he will work with Federer's existing team, including his traveling coach Severin Luthi, as the former World No. 1 considers his options.

"I've been looking to add someone to my team and I've decided to spend some days with Paul Annacone," Federer wrote in a post on his official web site today. "As Paul winds down his responsibilities working for the Lawn Tennis Association, we will explore our relationship through this test period. Paul will work alongside my existing team and I am excited to learn from his experiences."

The 47-year-old Annacone was a pure serve-and-volley player who used his net skills to reach a career-high rank of No. 12. He reunited with Sampras during the former World No. 1's run to the 2002 US Open title. Sampras said Annacone's advice that he rely more on his athleticism and impose his attacking game on opponents was a key component in ending his two-year title drought and defeating arch rival Andre Agassi to win the 2002 Open.

The announcement does not mean Annacone will sign on as Federer's full-time coach, though certainly that is a possibility. Federer would not take the time to "explore" a relationship with Annacone unless he believes there is the potential for a productive won.

Federer went through a similar process before opting to work with Australian Tony Roche. Federer also spent some time with Darren Cahill, who coached Lleyton Hewitt and Andre Agassi to the World No. 1 ranking, though both Cahill and Federer ultimately both decided against creating a full-time coaching partnership.

Working with Annacone, who spent his ATP career attacking net relentlessly, is a sign Federer, who played serve-and-volley tennis when he upset Sampras in the fourth round of the 2001 Wimbledon, is considering playing a more attacking style of tennis when he returns to tournament tennis at the Rogers Cup in Toronto next month.