Andy Roddick has high praise for Novak Djokovic and Brad Gilbert

Andy Roddick knows of which he speaks. The former number 1 ATP player now is one of the best tennis-follows on X (the artist formerly known as Twitter) and is must-watch when he shows up on the tennis channel. Andy Roddick doesn’t hit a person over the head with bombast, he simply exudes positive energy with tennis honesty.

Roddick recently gave some love to Novak Djokovic after Djokovic’s defeat of Gael Monfils at the Western and Southern Open. Djokovic defeated Monfils for the 19th straight time (Monfils has never beaten Djokovic). After the match, Andy Roddick joked that “Novak’s record against Gaël Monfils can almost legally drink in (the United States).”

But what really seems to blow Roddick away when it comes to the Serb is just how Djokovic appears to be able to turn tennis on and off throughout the year successfully. Said Roddick, “He can instantly pick up right from where he left off. He makes it look way easier than it actually is.” And again, Roddick should know as he was a Grand Slam winner himself (2003 US Open) and a four-time major finalist otherwise.

Andy Roddick calls Brad Gilbert a “genius”

But Roddick also gave some praise to former player-turned-coach Brad Gilbert. On the Tennis Channel this week, Roddick called Gilbert, who now coaches Coco Gauff, a “genius” and said Gilbert knows how to boil teaching down so as not to overwhelm a player trying to learn from him. But then Gilbert can layer additional information so that it makes sense.

Gauff has played some of the best tennis of her life since Gilbert became her coach. This includes Gauff winning the Citi Open earlier in August. She is currently ranked fifth on the WTA tour. Gilbert also coached Roddick during the time Roddick won the US Open.

Andy Roddick as a player lost his temper on the court quite a bit. But off the court, he always appeared quite likable. That likability comes across even more now when he talks about tennis instead of playing the sport. Basically, tennis could use more Andy Roddick.