De-Coding Brad Gilbert's Vocabulary

October 1, 2012

If you are familiar with ESPN's group of tennis analysts (and who isn't?), you'll know what it's like to listen to Brad Gilbert break down a match. Despite his level of expertise, it's not uncommon for tennis fans to listen to him and say, "What the heck did he just call that player? Scrabble?"


Without question, Brad Gilbert, a former top 5 player on the ATP Tour, has a way with words...and player nicknames. For example, "Gael Force" is Gilbert's nickname for Gael Monfils, not his take on the weather. When he's not hooked up to a mic on ESPN, Gilbert's colorful commentary can also be found on his Twitter page, where he writes his one-of-a-kind quips, in 140-words-or-less.


I've put together this handy list of player names and corresponding nicknames (created by Gilbert), so you can follow along on TV or Twitter, as he takes tennis commentating to new level. 




Player Name Nickname


Alex Bogomolov Bogey
Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova Scrabble
Andy Murray Muzza, Muzzard (credit to Darren Cahill for Muzzard)
Angelique Kerber Kerber Baby
Bernard Tomic Weekend at Bernie's
Brian Baker Baker's Dozen
Dudi Sela Duty Free
Feliciano Lopez Filo Lopez
Fernando Verdasco Fer-Ver
Francesca Schiavone Frankie Goes to Hollywood
Gael Monfils Gael Force
Giles Simon Simon Says
Gilles Muller Ferris Muller Day Off
Go Soeda Do not pass Go Soeda
Grigor Dimitrov Prime Time Dimitrov
Ivo Karlovic Dr. Ivo
Jack Sock Jack Knee-Socks, Rockum-Sock
Jarkko Nieminen The Shark Nieminen
Jelena Jankovic Double J
Jo Wilfried Tsonga Jo-Willy
John Isner Isman
Juan Monaco Club Monaco
Jürgen Meltzer Tuna Meltzer
Kei Nishikori Special K
Li Na LI NA NA LI
Madison Keys Madison Ave
Marcel Granollers Granola Bars
Marcos Baghdatis Baghs
Mardy Fish Swordfish, Sushi, Fisherman
Maria Sharapova Shazza
Marin Cilic Marin County Cilic
Michaella Krajicek Cracker Jack
Milos Raonic Missile, Missile Roanic
Nicolas Mahut Marathon Man Mahut
Nicolay Davydenko Davy
Novak Djokovic Djoker
Petra Kvitova K-Vitty
Radek Stepanek Steps
Rajeev Ram Ram Truck
Richard Gasquet Dickie Gasquet
Roberta Vinci DaVinci Code
Roger Federer Fedfan, Fed Express
Ryan Harrison Ryan Express
Sabine Lisicki Boom Boom
Sam Querrey SQ
Stan Wawrinka Stan the Man
Thomas Berdych Birdman
Venus Williams VW
Vera Zvonareva Z-Von
Victoria Azarenka Aza
Xavier Malisse Xman


*If I've missed any names here, feel free to pass them along!

3 comments:

Anonymous said...

Kvitova: K-Vitty.
Raonic: Missle (Maybe missle rocket, gotta check that one).

Paula Vergara said...

Thanks for the updates!

Anonymous said...

Impressive list.

Bernard Tomic - Weekend at Bernie's