Brad Gilbert caught criticism on social media after apparently engaging with Iga Swiatek's harasser on X.
Over the weekend, Gilbert - who coached Coco Gauff for a year between 2023 and 2024 - appeared to question why the Cincinnati Open organizers were granting all of Swiatek's requests to have her matches scheduled early.
On X, the 64-year-old caught criticism and scrutiny over that one. One of the people who came to the American coach's defense was an X user @bez_klakierow, who issued some strong comments about Swiatek's fanbase.
"Coming soon the episode of my podcast about the CEO of swiatkary cult @Strzewa91. Those @iga_swiatek fans are trashing everyone from players like @MagdaLinette racist comments about @CocoGauff not to mention all the hate towards my favorite Danielle Collins. Of course they also trash people like @bgtennisnation @LDavenport76 @CoCoVandey among others," the user posted.
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Gilbert appeared to be grateful for the support.
The person in question was recognized as Swiatek's harasser from Miami
If you recall, a person had to be removed from one of Swiatek's practice sessions during this year's Miami Open. In a video posted on X, a man could be heard shouting some stuff in Polish at the six-time Grand Slam champion. Later, it was revealed that the person in question was a Polish man who moved to Florida, and that he insulted the world No. 3 on a personal level and asked what happened with her mother.
He was removed from the stands and banned from attending any of Swiatek's matches.
After Gilbert responded to the post above, fans did some digging and realized that it was the same person who provoked the Polish tennis star earlier this year and uploaded the video on X.
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"@bgtennisnation you should be ashamed for engaging with the person who harassed Iga witek in Miami. Supporting or acknowledging such behavior is unacceptable. This is the lowest of the low," one user wrote.
However, Gilbert remained unfazed.
"I dont know her and leave me alone," he responded.
In Miami, Swiatek praised the organizers and the security staff for how they handled her harasser.
