So, I found myself thinking about Brad Gilbert and Andy Roddick the other day. It wasn’t planned, just kinda happened while I was sorting through some old tennis magazines I keep piled up.
Saw a picture of Roddick holding up that US Open trophy. Big moment for him, obviously. And right there, in my mind’s eye, I pictured Gilbert, probably chewing gum, looking intense in the player’s box. It got me curious again about how that whole partnership really functioned day-to-day.
Digging In A Bit
I remembered reading Gilbert’s book, “Winning Ugly,” years ago. Decided to pull it off the shelf. It’s funny how you see things differently later on. This time, I wasn’t just reading it for general tips; I was specifically trying to connect the dots back to Roddick.
What I started looking for:
- Not the big, flashy changes.
- More like the small stuff, the tactical adjustments.
- How Gilbert’s “win ugly” mindset might have been applied to a power player like Andy.
Spent a good hour or so just flipping through, re-reading sections. Thinking about Roddick’s matches during that period. He always had the massive serve and forehand, right? But watching clips from back then, you could kinda see Gilbert’s influence creeping in. Maybe a different shot selection here and there. More focus on patterns, maybe making the opponent hit one extra ball.
Putting Pieces Together
It wasn’t like I discovered some secret formula. It was more about observing the practical application of Gilbert’s known philosophy. You see a guy like Roddick, pure power, and then you see the results when he pairs up with a strategist like Gilbert. It seemed less about overhauling Roddick’s weapons and more about teaching him when and where to deploy them most effectively. Making him think about point construction, not just hitting winners.
I even tried to apply some of that thinking myself, just mentally, next time I was watching a match. Asking myself, ‘What would Gilbert tell this player right now?’ Simple stuff, like target spots on the serve, or how to play a specific opponent’s weakness consistently.
Anyway, it was just a little exercise for myself. Going back, looking at that Gilbert-Roddick dynamic. It’s a solid reminder that coaching isn’t always about radical changes. Sometimes it’s about sharpening the tools you already have and building a smarter game plan. Took some real effort to piece together my thoughts on it from memory and that old book, but it was a worthwhile little trip down memory lane.
