Winning Ugly | Brad Gilbert | Talks at Google

Brad Gilbert was the coach of Andre Agassi and winner of 20 professional tennis titles. His book Winning Ugly reveals all of the tactics he used for success on the court.
We're sorry to report some initial audio issues, but the issues clear up by 2:45 (goo.gl/dfgpBc).

[@jazz2020]

Brad is a great story teller and one of the best tennis commentators out there. Real smart and likable guy!

[@elpe8043]

Totally, I would listen to him talking tennis for hours!

[@jamesbrian1135]

I played Brad in high school when we visited piedmont High from Walnut Creek, he was a freckled little schmuck with a folded back tennis hat who dinked dunked and drop shot to pull me in and then lobbed over my head to win every point...with the nick name of Bratly...i think he was # 2 in the 16's nationally at the time..his sister and brother both played in front of him at 1 and 2 on the team that year (1976)....

[@jazz19101]

This guy is very smart and has great insight into tennis and life. Amazing how accurate his predictions were.

[@johnboon2388]

Brad Gilbert's talk show very interesting. Thank you for the many gems in your talk.

[@ericwilson6994]

The best ever written on tennis strategy, tactics, and psychology.

[@CARLOSLOPEZ-sh4ps]

I everyone, Im from Argentina, i have the book and is totally amazing, the best tennis book ive ever read, since the moment it came into my hands my tennis changed totally FOR GOOD! Brad is the best person to explain how to maximize our tennis!

[@joemarshall4226]

My favorite part is the section on "The hidden ad points". When you think like that, you play so much better!

[@attybong]

7 years later, indeed we are seeing tiafoe and opelka in grand slams .. great foresight by brad 🎉

[@joemarshall4226]

Brad had the best running passing shots in the game at his time. He had a good first serve, and steady, controlled ground strokes. He could serve and volley, had a good return of serve, and decent volleys. And he scouted the opponents better than almost anyone. He liked to play slow and dare you to come in, but he could sneak in and take the net away from you, and he could serve and volley. And he was QUICK. This notion that he had no skills is just wrong.

[@thomasmedeiros5722]

I agree with your assessment and will note that Brad did say it was important to use the skills that you have to your best advantage. I was fortunate to have a knowledgeable coach when I was developing my game. The told me “ find out what the other guy doesn’t like then feed him a very big portion of it”. My coach loved to use boxing legend Muhammad Ali as an example. We drilled the Ali Ropa Dope tactics in which Ali let his opponents wear them selves out throwing punches while he just covered up until they got tired. In my coaches words I was “ a lean mean ground stroke machine “ who could as Ali loved to say “ float like a butterfly and sting like a bee”. At 5’6” 140 lbs my coach really helped my game. If you follow Brads advice lots of opponents will beat themselves if you give them the opportunity. I have coached high school tennis for 25 years and frequently teach Brad Gilbert’s tactics.

[@OneOfTheLostOnes]

Audio is fine past the 3:00 minutes.

[@drelephanttube]

Thanks, I almost gave up before seeing your comment.

[@prosemit]

No, it is not!

[@RichardsWorld]

I watched another video of him and the audio was terrible. Must be something about this guy 😀

[@ElizarTringov]

Thank you sweet LORD!

[@briancarroll3232]

Ha. Thanks. I was also gonna drop

[@kristilinz6911]

I have learned so much from this video. Also love the insight about Tiafoe , Opelka , Kyrios , and the future of tennis.

[@sunjen11]

Yesterday I was up 4-0 on the 3rd set, lost my focus and lost the match 4-6. I'm planning to write a book. "Losing Ugly"

[@dogdaybreak3157]

LOL. I'll buy it!

[@freebox23]

Maybe I can help... Loool

[@gherbihicham8506]

Nadal is like the very talented and very athletic version of Brad Gilbert, that's why he's the most destructive tennis player ever.

[@RichardsWorld]

He was talking about would Roger federer win another Grand Slam title, and Roger was 33 at the time of this recording. Roger ended up winning 3 more slams so far.

[@vinceduque7115]

Loved this. Thanks for sharing.

[@mxtthompson]

Calling out Tiafoe and Opelka as rising stars 7 years ago … impressive. Ranked 29, 27 now and both still improving

[@HistoryNggas]

Here after Tiafoe won a title

[@patrickwilkinson1062]

Here now that Tiafoe is ranked 10.

[@lodestarsprayer5660]

Wish this guy coached me in HS or College..Great person and personality!

[@SammyEddie]

Watched a 4.0 doubles match once. My guys were up 6-0, 5-0, 30 love. They lost that set 5-7 and then third set 0-6. Worst meltdown ever. I bought both of them “winning ugly” as kind of a lighthearted prank but one guy read it and he said it changed his whole outloook on the game.

[@willieplasencia]

Outstanding! Love this guy!

[@nancjim]

WIllie Plasencia nb

[@colinmcmullin1154]

I think Brad would change his answer about the greatest ever at 33-34, after seeing Djokovic at 34, Nadal at 34, and Federer at 34 all winning slams

[@Back2Zack]

Crazy that he has this style yet immediately after building coco's team she has significant improvements to her forehand. Trying to guess what his psychological approach to that was. Must have been something along the lines of "you dont need to have the best forehand, you just want to inprove it enough to play your game". Whatever it was, she was able to improve without putting more expectation on herself. She seemed so loose. Incredible.

[@47imagine]

Wow, he nailed that boxing prediction

[@ShakurasStalker]

+47imagine what's the timestamp of that? I'm too lazy to watch the whole thing

[@Radnally]

I think I recall Agassi getting very strong with a strength coach that helped him as well when he started winning some slams.

[@tengo257]

Gil

[@boajoa86]

awesome guy

[@danoliver8804]

Great Book .....well worth a read.

[@ChaunceyDos]

Brad can really derail a broadcast with his ADD approach to talking, but this interview is great. Very endearing. I like Brad a lot more after watching this.

[@joemarshall4226]

Brad's broadcasting is the BEST

[@angelmatos9143]

Fascinating & helpful. 😎

[@rukawa23gold]

I love that book. The top ten best books that I ever bought

[@MsSusanmary]

Brad Gilbert made the interviewer sound as if he even knew what he was doing

[@gsapp59]

Maybe look up who that interviewer is before spouting off.

[@stockton350]

Wise words from Saul Berenson, American hero.

[@sj4632]

Smart guy. He predicted exactly what Novak's gameplan was gonna be against Medvedev in the 2021 Australian Open Final.

[@kpwand]

which was?

[@sj4632]

@@kpwand Find out yourself lol....I'm not your servant.

[@kpwand]

@@sj4632 it's okay, you can just say I don't remember

[@sj4632]

@@kpwand I do remember, but if you're too lazy to find out yourself, that's too bad.

[@kpwand]

@@sj4632 lol, ok bro

[@alessandrobruinenserio7830]

Great video. Weird background noise, though. :( Thanks for the video.

[@edgargonzalez5077]

I don't agree with everything he says, but hey...Whatever it works. To each his own. Blessings!

[@kihokahoka]

If Brad says Djoko is at the forefront of tennis evolution....

[@destroythebody]

He was horrible to watch playing but his winning Ugly book is a bible for any tennis competitor (including club competitors like me, I mean). So I've forgiven the fact that he didn't make me dream at all lol.

[@TimoTolkkipelto]

Well, Fed wins 3 more majors since this interview :)

[@samking4179]

0:00 - 2:39 ... one would think a tech company could get the audio right

[@giovanni.tirloni]

I thought this was going to be a talk about his book but it's actually sports commentary only.

[@StorytellingHeadshots]

Fyi: The buzzing in the audio stops at about the four minute mark.

[@tdan89]

well Brad was wrong with one thing...Fed did beat Stan and Nadal for his next GS :)....what a match

[@OfficialWorldChampion]

I feel so bad for the cross-roads guy. all of a sudden he probably feels like the villain

[@gttennisandfitness4476]

Google can't even control their audio..... Good stuff that

[@nonorme]

What exactly is Episoketren System? How does this thing really work? I notice lots of people keep on talking about this popular training course.

[@franriding6473]

Su wei plays like him today. The attritional play got him in the top 10 but no slams.

[@melonbarmonster]

Fix the audio please!!!!!

[@NJGuy1973]

Am I the only person who saw the title and immediately thought of the 1983 Chicago White Sox?

[@10slover62]

Considering how forthcoming he is, I was shocked to hear that Brad thinks he would be competitive in this day and age (as a player in his prime). Brad had one grip, loved to float his groundies, slowly spun in his second serves, and relied on well-placed passing shots of net rushers. Given the current polyester strings and powerful racquets, the majority of the Top 500+ players are BIG hitters from the backcourt and would likely blow Brad right off the court. Think Thiem vs. Brad, for example. When Brad played (in the mid-late 80s into the early 90's), he and his fellow pros hit with gut and synthetic gut that had nowhere near the power, control, and spin that polyester has. Brad would get crushed now. Even though I really liked his game and enjoyed him driving the top players insane (esp Mac).

[@joemarshall4226]

Maybe, maybe not....Santoro beat Djokovic and several other of today's top players, and he hit softer than Brad

[@thomasmedeiros5722]

You have to factor in that if Brad developed his game during this era he would have adopted modern grips and strokes. He would still be a master tactician who would try to exploit weakness. He was very careful about predicting what ranking he could attain in this era. He simply said he believes he could make a living.

[@leobrahmachari6611]

It’s a bit shocking that you’d write such a thoroughly thought-through opinion piece and miss something so glaringly obvious. If Brad grew up in this day and age, he wouldn’t be playing a 1980’s game style. He wouldn’t have the same strokes that you think of as “Brad Gilbert” strokes. His strokes and his game would be appropriate to the era.

[@zabean]

Funny that Brad mentions dial up as the reminiscent buzzing is drowning him out

[@lewisallen5849]

What's that noise at the start of the video?

[@canadiantennispro]

hes so right Lendl just refused to lose to gilbert , probably cause he didnt respect him enough , he respected john though, and mcenroe was a pusher difference is john would attack Brad would wait for you to make a move . Us open 1990 i was there , remembered like it was yesterday Rick Leach vs Gilbert and it was the most boring match i ever saw live but Brad jus tpushed Rick all over the court , third round i think it was. Brad would know exactly what match i was talking about ,after that Yannick vs Becker incredible match. on centre court.

[@SammyEddie]

Took me 20 min to realize i could turn off captions.

[@tonypatricelli8408]

Brad always had a beautiful game from my pov... the marketing message is really self deprecated to meet a mass audience appeal

[@joemarshall4226]

He had the best running passing shots in the game at the time...he dared you to come in, and he gave you nothing but junk to come in behind

[@jkj1459]

VIJAY AMRITHRAJ LOVES BRAD GILBERT ALWYAS MENTION HIS NAME .. WHEN HE WAS COACHING ANDRE AGASSI

[@douglashagan65]

We'll take a look at Brad Gilbert's top speed back and forehand and I guarantee that you're going to see a closed racket face that contact and let's see if I'm right if I'm wrong well let's go back to the drawing board but not everybody hits the ball the same but you know what when it comes to topspin this is a fixed

[@nillejoslin]

Must have been a true inspiration for Goolag... I mean Google.

[@kingarthurusatenniscoach1415]

Vic Braden,,,,, the best bio mechanic coach,,,,Brad was limited and did well,,, He would upset players,,,,and won... His rackets skills was limited

[@rizwanramzan5729]

Brad is a pusher...and played professional tennis...i cant understand????!! But B.G is amazing coach!

[@thetruthwillsetyoufree9209]

The RF comment didn't age well...

[@canadiantennispro]

becker in 4 or straight sets maybe.

[@kingarthurusatenniscoach1415]

Read Vic Braden ,,,,, hit down the middle,,, simple

[@philipsimmonds117]

What's with that buzzing noise!

[@Coachvtennis]

100 like

[@kingarthurusatenniscoach1415]

Agassi never learnt to volley,,,,,, the best coach in the world,,,, I dont think so... Great talker,,,, Brad yet not technical

[@kingarthurusatenniscoach1415]

tennis does not pay well if you are not in the top 10,,, compare the earning of golfers.. More prize money in the satellite tournaments

[@fiji16g8]

This guy doing the interview is like a guy doing an infomercial for Bradley

[@themightysk]

8:15 Dimitrov is the answer imo.

[@kingtrawal]

Funny, the Warriors fucking won the title that year…

[@kingno1e591]

Winning ugly. That's what Nadal does.

[@gremsa]

+King No1e too bad djoko is still considered a bigger douche

[@naysayer1238]

Oh god...again with the "Serena is better than all men". 43-year-old Sampras beats 33-year-old Serena 6-0, 6-0 Edit: When I think harder about it though, I think Gilbert is just saying she is the most dominate against her field at that age ever. I imagine he has to say it's Djokovic now, here 8 years later, though.

[@fiji16g8]

Lendl was the absolute worst example for the co author to give. Brad's mental was useless against Lendl. He never beat him don't even think he won many games against Lendl.

[@WOLFARG]

fuc** noise !!!!!!!!!!!!!

[@SMSJSC]

'Winning ugly' is about the only way this guy could win... a Mr Tennis Nobody who reached one quarter final in all the majors he played.

[@glutamin111]

well not everyone is as naturally talented as federer or nalbandian so you need to improve other aspects of your game as much as possible...tennis is also mental and strategic not only aesthetic...and often

[@wruehl1]

Ha ha ha. The regular mans tennis hero. The guy won 20 professional tournaments, made it to No. 4 in the world, earned $5.5 million while on the tour, and has an Olympic Bronze Medal. He beat McEnroe, Edberg, Becker, Sampras, Courier, and Chang among others. Not too bad for a guy that didn't have a lot of natural talent.

[@rishijai]

Muhammed Ali was the opposite - winning pretty

[@oooodaxteroooo]

i honestl dont care about his kethods. im pretty sure, the idea of winning ugly is just that. and i dont think, federer would ever have worked with him. there is a reason, federer destroyed the late agassi. :)

[@KevinMphotography]

11 years age difference?

[@ragnarjonsson1122]

oooodaxteroooo well, fed wouldn't have had a chance against an agassi in his prime

[@HyperHorse]

Agassi didn't have a chance against Sampras in his prime, and Roger is a way way better player than Pete. You are out of your fucking mind...

[@SI10379]

oooodaxteroooo A 35 year old agassi with a bad back took a set off of federer and was 4 - 2 up in the 3rd in the US open final

[@johannystrom1724]

There is something dishonest about Brad Gilbert

[@leobrahmachari6611]

There is something dysfunctional about your perception

[@sejfokavazovic7051]

Hi, It was really sad listen you and others tennis experts(ha,ha)during US open 2016 analyze players from Europe(last 10 years) while US tennis on death-bed. I can say you guys talking too much but working big 0 to change this situation. I can say you are not able to do anything, because you empty. Solutions are to bring many tennis coaches from Europe to revitalize US tennis. Thanks Safe

[@aisthpaoitht]

Your hatred is sad.

[@csl1384]

Did you actually watch the whole interview before wisecracking? He addressed the issue head-on, nothing to do with European coaches, and advices that more clay courts should be built in the US, because that is were kids really learn how to build up a point, as they do in Europe.

[@MAA-gf5it]

US tennis sucks now because more of the world is playing the sport than ever before, so there is a lot more competition. Also, our best US athletes play Basketball & Football. Tennis is usually only played by rich un athletic nerds in the US. It's considered a sissy sport by most male American athletes. It comes after Football, Basketball, Baseball, Soccer, Hockey in popularity. US males will never dominate tennis again. Coaching has nothing to do with it. Sad but true.

[@sejfokavazovic7051]

He really talk trash. Tell me any player you help him to improve game(Rodic-0 , Mary-0. You better stop to talk about tennis, you are not right person. Try to do something else like fill bags at food store.

[@aisthpaoitht]

huh?

[@JosephHolschuh]

7 Grand Slams with Agassi

[@csl1384]

Is filling bags what you do? That's what you sound like.

[@biyorkman]

Winning Ugly？losing Ugly. Brad You had no talent.

[@milgun9437]

So if u are born without talent u do not deserve to make a living out of something u love to do? This is just stupid man...