Brad Gilbert
A cerebral tennis maverick who used strategic guile to outthink more powerful opponents, then masterminded the careers of champions as a coach.
Born 1961 (age 65)·American tennis player and coach·Birthday: August 9·Baby Boomers
Biography
Brad Gilbert's tennis story is one of intellect over instinct. In an era of booming serves and flashy winners, the Californian carved out a top-five ranking with a game he famously described as 'winning ugly.' He was a master tactician, dissecting opponents' weaknesses with relentless consistency, clever spins, and a frustratingly effective two-handed backhand. His professional career yielded 20 singles titles, an Olympic bronze in 1988, and victories over every major star of his day. But his true legacy was forged after he retired. As a coach, he became the sport's premier 'tennis brain,' transforming raw talent into Grand Slam champions. His most famous partnership was with Andre Agassi, whom he guided from a ranking outside the top 30 to world number one and six major titles. Gilbert later authored the bestselling instructional book 'Winning Ugly,' distilling his philosophy for a generation of players and fans who appreciated the mental chess match behind the physical spectacle.
Baby Boomers
1946–1964
The largest generation in history at the time. Shaped by postwar prosperity, the Vietnam War, the sexual revolution, and Watergate. They questioned every institution their parents built — then ran them.
Brad was born in 1961, placing them squarely in the Baby Boomers. The events that shaped this generation — postwar prosperity, civil rights, Vietnam, and the counterculture — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When Brad Was Born
The biggest hits of 1961
#1 Movie
101 Dalmatians
Best Picture
West Side Story
#1 TV Show
Wagon Train
Brad's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1961Born
Yuri Gagarin becomes the first human in space
Gas: $0.31/galHome: $12,500Min wage: $1.15/hrPresident: John F. Kennedy"Tossin' and Turnin'" — Bobby LewisBest Picture: West Side Story
1966Started school
Star Trek premieres on television
Gas: $0.32/galHome: $14,200Min wage: $1.25/hrPresident: Lyndon B. Johnson"The Ballad of the Green Berets" — SSgt Barry SadlerBest Picture: A Man for All Seasons
1974Became a teenager
Nixon resigns the presidency
Gas: $0.53/galHome: $22,600Min wage: $2.00/hrPresident: Gerald Ford"The Way We Were" — Barbra StreisandBest Picture: The Godfather Part II
1977Could drive
Star Wars premieres; Elvis dies
Gas: $0.62/galHome: $31,800Min wage: $2.30/hrPresident: Jimmy Carter"Tonight's the Night" — Rod StewartBest Picture: Annie Hall
1979Could vote
Iran hostage crisis begins; Three Mile Island accident
Gas: $0.86/galHome: $37,900Min wage: $2.90/hrPresident: Jimmy Carter"My Sharona" — The KnackBest Picture: Kramer vs. Kramer
1982Turned 21
Michael Jackson releases Thriller
Gas: $1.22/galHome: $55,200Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"Physical" — Olivia Newton-JohnBest Picture: Gandhi
1991Turned 30
Soviet Union dissolves; World Wide Web goes public
Gas: $1.14/galHome: $82,400Min wage: $4.25/hrPresident: George H.W. Bush"(Everything I Do) I Do It for You" — Bryan AdamsBest Picture: The Silence of the Lambs
2001Turned 40
September 11 attacks transform the world
Gas: $1.46/galHome: $126,400Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"Hanging by a Moment" — LifehouseBest Picture: A Beautiful Mind
2011Turned 50
Osama bin Laden killed; Arab Spring sweeps the Middle East
Gas: $3.53/galHome: $138,400Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Rolling in the Deep" — AdeleBest Picture: The Artist
2021Turned 60
January 6 Capitol breach; COVID vaccines roll out globally
Gas: $3.01/galHome: $298,900Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Joe Biden"Levitating" — Dua LipaBest Picture: CODA
2026Age 65 today
Gas: $3.91/galPresident: Donald Trump
Key Achievements
- Achieved a career-high singles ranking of World No. 4 in 1990, amassing 20 ATP singles titles with a cerebral playing style.
- Coached Andre Agassi to six Grand Slam titles and a return to the World No. 1 ranking, orchestrating one of the sport's great comebacks.
- Won an Olympic bronze medal in men's singles at the 1988 Seoul Games.
- Authored the influential tennis strategy book 'Winning Ugly,' which remains a seminal text on the mental side of the sport.
Did You Know?
He is known for creating colorful nicknames for players, famously dubbing Roger Federer 'Fed Express' and Pete Sampras 'Pistol Pete.'
He won the 1981 Maccabiah Games gold medal in singles and a silver in doubles.
He has served as a television commentator and analyst for ESPN for many years.
As a junior, he was ranked number one in the United States in the 18-and-under division.
“I made a nice living out of beating guys who were better than me.”
