What about Bob (Brett)?

Roger Federer lost yesterday.

He's had a lot of losses most tennis fans probably didn't think they'd see for a while in his career. The question is, though, "Now what?" You ask your average fan and they'll probably say that Federer needs a coach. That's how I feel, too. And I'm gonna throw a name out there that I think would be the perfect fit for him. I just mentioned this in a comment on GoToTennis, but I'm bringing it home to Tennis Talk, Anyone?:

Bob Brett.

You mean that Australian guy that used to coach ATP stalwarts (hey, anytime you get the chance to use the word "stalwarts," take it!) Boris Becker, Goran Ivanisevic and Mario Ancic, and who now works with Marin Cilic? Why yes, that Bob Brett. There's so many good reasons why this should happen. Let me tick off a few.

• Brett, as I mentioned above, has worked with and built Grand Slam winners.

• He's experienced, having coached for a couple of decades now.

• He's even-tempered, which I think can be shown by being able to lead such emotional, hot-headed players as Becker and Ivanisevic. Roger, of course, isn't as fly-off-the-handle as those guys (current racket-smashing exploits notwithstanding), which I think could make he and Brett an even better pairing.

• If anything, Brett would be an extra set of eyes and could scout Andy Murray, Novak Djokovic and Rafael Nadal, then work out a gameplan with Federer.

• He's led players to success on all surfaces.

I know it's not that easy to say, "Hey Bob Brett. Come work with me, I'm Roger Federer. Leave Marin Cilic, sit in my box and you can get the credit for helping me make a turnaround." But if I were Federer, staring at the prospect of falling short of the Slams record and losing to these young guys every time you play them, I'd do something along those lines.

I think Bob Brett, more than anyone, would be the way to go.

(Photo: Getty Images)