In 2007, Coco Gauff‘s coach, Brad Gilbert partnered with Steve Jamison to write the book “Winning Ugly.” If you turn its pages even today, his timeless strategies remain just as relevant. But his wisdom is not just a part of his book; it is also crucial in real life. Gilbert recently shared his thoughts on the ugly winning strategy that proved so important to Coco Gauff’s incredible US Open victory last year.

Gilbert has a unique mindset when it comes to winning in tennis – when your body is in good form, both physically and mentally, victory may come relatively easy. But what about the bad days? Overcoming those ‘ugly days’ and winning shows the true mettle of an athlete, believer Gilbert.

His ugly winning strategy led to Coco Gauff’s first Grand Slam victory in 2023. In an interview with Clay, “Yeah, it still happens, you know, to be a great player and to be a successful player, you always have to figure out how to win matches when things aren’t going well.” Last year itself, the 62-year-old tennis coach joined Coco Gauff’s team, and by the end of the year, helped her win her first Grand Slam title.

On the same note, he added, “And that’s probably still one of the most crucial elements to being a great player: learning how to win when you’re average. It’s easy to win when you’re having a great day. But it’s figuring out a way to win when you’re not at your best, (that) is the most important type of winning. And it still matters today.”

In 2024 as well, Gauff “won ugly” over Marta Kostyuk of Ukraine earlier this year in an intense quarterfinal match. Gauff showed her resiliency by winning a hard-fought game, despite laboring with 51 unforced errors, 9 double faults, and a weak forehand. She made it to her maiden Australian Open semifinal with this victory, but it was by no means an easy one.

Despite never reading “Winning Ugly,” Gauff has learned from the maestro himself.  In her post-match press conference, she shared, “My mom actually got it for me when we were in talks of possibly working with Brad, and she was like, ‘You need to read this.’ She read it, but I didn’t. I feel like I got the real version, so I don’t need a book.”

Not only does the young American tennis player know how to win ugly, but in the same year, a few weeks ago, Emma Raducanu won ‘ugly’ at Wimbledon after watching England do the same.

After Coco Gauff, Emma Raducanu took an ‘ugly’ win

Raducanu’s tenacious triumph over lucky loser Renata Zarazua at Wimbledon was attributed to an evening spent watching the Euros. The 2021 US Open winner, who was forced to withdraw from Wimbledon due to injury last year, came up against a tough opponent in a closely played first-round match that ended in a tie-break.

Raducanu said, “Watching the football last night it was like winning ugly. It all counts. It was an incredibly difficult match. I’ve barely if ever played a defender who’s landed the ball on the baseline or just kept getting it back.”

To sum up, Brad Gilbert’s “winning ugly” concept highlights the value of adaptation and tenacity in the face of difficulty. Gilbert’s emphasis on the tactical and mental components of the game has given Coco Gauff the tools she needs to win difficult matches, demonstrating that perseverance through adversity is frequently more important for success than flawless performance.

What are your thoughts on Gilbert’s strategy? Do let us know in the comment section below.