Bad times are an unfortunate eventuality that all of us have to deal with. Similarly, sports professionals often experience periods of low performance and it can take them down a downward spiral if not dealt with properly. However, it is imperative that one keeps their head high in such times. The team and people close to the person can help with improving the mentality of the player. Usually, the approach taken in such cases is soft and caring. Brad Gilbert, ex-coach of Andre Agassi, chose to take a slightly different approach and still succeeded in bringing Agassi back.

Brad Gilbert is a generally active social media user who still supports Andre Agassi and his family to this day.

Recently, Gilbert recently interacted with Craig Shapiro at the Malibu Racquet Club. Gilbert coached 15 students of Shapiro and sat down for a Q&A after.

How Brad Gilbert got Andre Agassi back

1997 was a difficult year for Agassi. The American player experienced a major slump. Agassi, ranked number 1 in May 1996, had fallen down to rank 141 by the end of November 1997. Struggling with motivation, he entered only 13 tournaments and failed to reach the final of any. However, the player did find a way to jump back to the top with the help of his coach.

In the Q&A with Shapiro, uploaded as a podcast, Gilbert talked about an instance where Andre Agassi was demotivated. Agassi had played horribly in a match of the 1997 Stuttgart Masters. He was pitted against American player Todd Martin and suffered a scathing defeat. Agassi was beside himself after the match.

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He even went as far as asking his coach if he was still fit for the game. Instead of being soft on him, Gilbert took the more blunt approach. Gilbert explained to him that he still has potential for tennis. But if he didn’t put in enough effort, he would end up with a low-quality product. He had these choice words to say as Agassi was letting up on his training.

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“I sat there and I said “Andre, the game hasn’t passed you by”. If you put in a 3 cent effort, you get a 3 cent result. And you’re cheating yourself by getting out of shape and not putting in the effort that, what you can get out of this game,” recalled Gilbert.

Gilbert further told Agassi that he had to devote himself to the game. To do that, fitness should be his primary motive. Moreover, this would help him start over and have a fresh outlook. Gilbert also told him that in 12 months’ time, he would be back if he followed his directions.

“I said “If you devote yourself to the game. If you get fit and you start over. You get back to Vegas and train, and you get it together that you wanna do things, it will probably take you 12 months to get back to where you wanna be, fulfilling all your dreams. You just have to put in 100% effort, and the game hasn’t passed you by.” He kinda looked at me and that was it.”

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Andre Agassi took his coach’s advice and won five Grand Slams in the following years till his retirement. He proved that one can get back up no matter how hard they fall.