Andre had a photographic memory, Andy was a lot like Mission Impossible": Coach Brad Gilbert recalls difference between coaching Agassi and Roddick

Former coach of Andre Agassi and Andy Roddick Brad Gilbert broke down the difference between the two former players who were both number one.

Gilbert the chance to coach some amazing tennis players in his career and Andre Agassi and Andy Roddick stick out among those. Both are grand slam winners and both made it to number one on the rankings. Even so, they were quite different players with Gilbert noting the difference on the Craig Shapiro podcast:

"Andre and me could talk sometimes three hours the night before the match about strategy, tactics. Andre had a photographic memory. With Roddick, he was a lot like Mission Impossible - 'This message will implode in 10 seconds:"

He continued:

"I sh*t you not, when I wanted him (Andy Roddick) to play a forehand, I would tell him to play the backhand. Then, when he was doing what I wanted, he would look up in the stands and tell me I was wrong. I had to tell him the opposite, if you said red he said black, that's how he was wired."

One of his favourite memories in working with Roddick was the 2004 Wimbledon where he made a run to the final but lost to Federer. Gilbert believes Roddick was as good as Federer at that time:

"I felt Roddick was as good as Federer at that moment. Two-three rain delays in that match where Roddick had the momentum and he was a little bit unlucky."