Brad Gilbert urges players to follow Andy Roddick’s advice after Medvedev’s Laver Cup meltdown

Sunday, 22 September 2024 at 20:30

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Brad Gilbert criticized Daniil Medvedev’s outburst after he threw his racket into the crowd during the Laver Cup. The world No. 5 suffered a surprising defeat against Ben Shelton in three sets, leaving Team Europe in a delicate situation after his second consecutive loss in the tournament.

Gilbert, former coach of Coco Gauff, urged players to follow Andy Roddick’s advice on how to deal with frustration on the court. Medvedev lost the first singles match of the day in a tight contest against Shelton, 6-7, 7-6, 10-7. He had already lost to Frances Tiafoe on Saturday.

The tense tiebreak of the first set had Shelton leading 5-4 when one of Medvedev’s shots went long, giving two set points to his rival. During the changeover, the Russian claimed he was playing “the worst tennis of his life” and had a fit of rage, throwing his racket into the crowd.

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Medvedev only received a warning, while Team World members, including Frances Tiafoe, Thanasi Kokkinakis, and John McEnroe, were expecting a disqualification. Tiafoe was the most vocal in protesting to chair umpire Mohamed Lahyani, who explained that since Medvedev didn’t hit anyone, no further action was necessary: “Frances, it bounced and it didn’t hit anyone. The result was not bad. If it had hit someone, I’d agree with you," Lahyani was heard saying.

Former Coco Gauff coach Brad Gilbert shared his thoughts on the 2021 US Open champion's drama, stating that Medvedev was lucky to avoid suspension. The American also suggested that the rules on this matter should be reviewed: “Meddy Bear (Daniil Medvedev) was pretty lucky in that racket chuck, maybe at some point this rule needs to be reexamined more closely alongside umpires’ decisions,” he wrote on X.

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The coach urged players to watch Andy Roddick’s tutorial on how to throw a racket: “1st of all, players need to be way more careful and rewatch (Andy Roddick) tutorial on throwing a racket or firing a ball in anger,” opined Brad Gilbert, who previously coached Roddick.

In the video, Roddick, the former world No. 1, hilariously demonstrates the best way to vent frustration without harming others.

Brad Gilbert

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Meddy Bear 🐻 was pretty lucky 🍀 on that racket Chuck, maybe at some point his rule needs to be relooked at more closely then umpires referee decisions

1:48 PM · Sep 22, 2024

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Cristhián AvilaTennis Journalist

Cristhián Ávila is a tennis journalist based in Santiago, Chile, and has been part of the TennisUpToDate team since early 2023. He covers the ATP and WTA Tours as well as all four Grand Slams, producing breaking news, match reports, analysis, and regular liveblogs from major tournaments.

His reporting combines statistical analysis with clear explanation, helping readers understand tactical developments, player form, and broader storylines across the tour. Working fluently in both Spanish and English, Cristhián collaborates with an international editorial team and contributes to comprehensive global coverage. As part of his work, he has conducted interviews and media interactions with leading figures in the sport, including Caroline Wozniacki and John McEnroe.

In his journalism, Cristhián places strong emphasis on careful sourcing, editorial accuracy, and updating articles promptly when new, verified information becomes available. His coverage is grounded in research, context, and direct engagement with professional tennis.

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