Tennease
Legend
Bob Brett, Coach To Becker, Ivanisevic & Cilic, Dies Aged 67
Australian Bob Brett was one of the world's leading tennis coaches for more than 40 years.
James Buddell
Jan 05, 2021
Bob Brett, who adhered to Harry Hopman’s coaching philosophy in a 46-year career, passed away on Tuesday morning due to cancer aged 67. The Australian worked with Grand Slam champions such as Johan Kriek, Boris Becker, Goran Ivanisevic and Marin Cilic, as well as many national associations, and was a friendly mentor to hundreds of coaches globally. In November 2020, he was unanimously selected by his peers as the recipient of the Tim Gullikson Career Coach Award.
Brett, who focused on patience, a strong work ethic and commitment to the player, was immersed in top-level tennis from an early age and became a devotee of Hopman, the legendary Australian coach, who was a mentor until his death in 1985. Brett, always thoughtful and softly spoken, was an emotionless presence from his courtside seat. The Melbourne-born coach taught his players about life, as well as how to hit a forehand, and maintained positive relationships with each of his charges well after their partnerships ended. Renowned for his lengthy counting drills, which restarted when a player made a mistake, Brett opened an academy, which bears his name, in San Remo, Italy in 2002.
Asked about his coaching style by ATPTour.com in 2008, Brett admitted, “I benefitted from my exposure to Hopman. I didn’t copy him, but a lot rubbed off on me. Work and repetition is the key in a player-coach partnership. A player must be mentally tough, with the ability to execute under pressure. It’s always a battle of their character against the other player’s character. You can guide then, provide them with examples and talk about history, but in the end you need to bring out the qualities a player has. Also, you must have an all-seeing eye for detail.”
In 1965, when attending the Victorian and Australian Championships, which were both held at Kooyong Lawn Tennis Club in Melbourne, Brett watched courtside and tried to get Hopman’s autograph. A gentleman he was sat beside asked if he wanted to meet George MacCall, who was in his first year as Davis Cup captain of the United States. Brett leapt at the chance and the next day went to meet MacCall and immediately became a ball boy to Arthur Ashe, Cliff Richey, Clark Graebner, Herb Fitzgibbon and Jim McManus during their training sessions.
“After some time, Arthur asked if I’d like to hit some balls,” Brett told ATPTour.com. “It lasted only for a few minutes before Mr Hopman came out of the clubhouse to stop it. He told Arthur off, confirming I wasn’t a member and it was unfair on other boys. The next year, I asked Mr Hopman if I could pick up balls for the Australian Davis Cup team, which he agreed.”
While Brett’s own playing career was short-lived, by 1971, upon the insistence of his father, he took two jobs: one as a postman from 6 a.m. to 1 p.m., then another from 5 p.m. to 1 a.m. But at the age of 20 in 1974, Brett wrote a letter to Hopman, who was working at the Port Washington Tennis Academy, located on Long Island, New York.
“Hopman told me to come along whenever, but he didn’t tell me about the paperwork involved in getting a visa,” remembered Brett. “I got in on a tourist visa and worked alongside Mr Hopman for $200 per week, which I calculated to be $6.25 per one-hour lesson. He told me to watch Tony Palafox, who would be John McEnroe’s long-time coach, a young McEnroe himself, Vitas Gerulaitis, Peter Rennert, Mary Carillo and Peter Fleming.”
.
Last edited: