Roger Federer says he will work with coach Jose Higueras at the Estoril Open in Portugal this week to see if the pair can "make a good team."
"I am excited as I have asked Jose Higueras, one of the most respected and accomplished coaches in the world of tennis, to join me," the top-ranked player said on his official website Monday.
Federer begins the European clay-court season at Estoril having failed to reach a final in four tournaments this year.
Higueras is a clay specialist who coached a teenage Michael Chang to the 1989 French Open title.
The Spaniard reached two semifinals at Roland Garros as a player and has also coached Americans Jim Courier, Pete Sampras and Robby Ginepri.
Federer's agent Tony Godsick said the partnership with Higueras could be for the long term.
"It is a test period but it is not just something for the clay-court season," Godsick told The Associated Press. "Roger is not looking to hire coaches just for specific surfaces. This is something he is testing out to replace the arrangement he had with Tony Roche."
Federer has worked without a coach since splitting with Roche, an Australian, last May. He is off to his worst start to a season since 2000. He has also suffered from a stomach virus and mononucleosis.
"I think Roger is back to 100 per cent and now he has just got to make sure he builds himself with all the time he has missed. He has got to play himself into shape and that is what he is doing," Godsick said.
The 26-year-old Swiss opens against 80th-ranked Olivier Rochus of Belgium on Tuesday.
Federer is scheduled to play Masters Series events on clay at Monte Carlo, Rome and Hamburg, Germany, before attempting to win his first French Open title.
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