Well, he is Isner's coach.
Well, it seems so:
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Back on Team Isner
https://tennis.life/2018/07/14/frantic-friday-wimbledon-supporting-players/
Gimelstob coached John Isner for a
couple of years in 2015 and 2016. And he returned in 2018, although not in full-time role as he shares duties with David Macpherson.
Even back in their first iteration, Gimelstob was big on Isner
hitting the ball harder within boundaries, returning harder, and coming to the net to finish points off.
That’s what the 33-year-old did this Wimbledon, and it nearly got him to the men’s singles final.
But it was Gimelstob’s performance in the player’s box, shown repeatedly on the television broadcasts,
that had social media quite in a tizzy for awhile.
Ladies & gents, John Isner's coach, Justin Gimelstob
#Wimbledon pic.twitter.com/jdDsAvpCoz
— BBC Tennis (@bbctennis)
July 13, 2018
Dressed in a suit and tie with aviator glasses (next to the more tennis-attired Macpherson), Gimelstob was standing and pumping his first on virtually every point.
In fact, once, he stood up, pumped his right fist – while still holding on to the hand of his seated girlfriend with his left hand. That’s multitasking.
It also looked as though he and Isner were exchanging hand signals among other coaching methods which, as we all know, isn’t kosher.
Please, someone put some sedative in Gimelstob’s tea. He’s scaring the natives. Isner – have a word with your man. #wimbledon2018 #isner #anderson
— Sibella Holland (@Ascoyne) July 13, 2018
Not as annoying as the shots of Gimelstob in the Anderson/ Isner match #too many
— Beth S (@bethinpv) July 13, 2018
Did anyone check on blue suit guy coaching #Isner? He may need some kind of aftercare now #IsnerVsAnderson has finally ended. Surely can't be safe to maintain that level of emotional intensity for so long Someone get #Gimelstob some chocolate. #wimbledon2018 #Wimbledon
— Megan Kerr (@MegDeeBee) July 13, 2018
On one hand, I’d like Isner to win. On the other hand, that’ll lead to even more celebratory shots of Gimelstob looking like the biggest wanker in the universe
— Doug Carll (@DScottCarll) July 13, 2018
John Isner is definitely receiving on-court coaching. But Gimelstob is doing it when he's cheering so it gets mixed up and is hard to notice.
Umpire can't prove, it seems!
Gimelstob is giving him gestural suggestions. Asking him to roll the ball.
— Sir Talks A Lot (@vocabartist) July 13, 2018
As a member of the Player Council, for which Anderson is vice-president and to which Isner was just elected for a return term, Gimelstob cheering on one player at the expense of another is just another of those myriad conflicts of interest tennis seems to have little stomach to even address.
Never mind the coaching thing.
But, as Gimelstob pointed out to your Tennis.Life correspondent during a chat a few years ago, nothing in tennis prevents him from putting his fingers in as many pies as he can and until it does, he’ll keep doing it. Can’t argue with that
chutzpah.
He has a lot of yellow cards in his file already, for things he’s said that way crossed the line. But he was probably loving every moment of it on Friday.
Except for the ending, of course.
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