Tim Gullikson
Encyclopedia
Timothy Ernest "Tim" Gullikson (September 8, 1951 – May 3, 1996) was a tennis
player and coach who was born in La Crosse, Wisconsin
in the United States.
In 1977, he won three tour singles titles and was named the ATP
's Newcomer of the Year. During his career as a tennis player, Gullikson won 15 top-level doubles titles, ten of them partnering with his identical twin brother, Tom Gullikson
. The brothers were runners-up in the men's doubles competition at Wimbledon in 1983. Tim also won a total of four top-level singles titles. His career-high rankings were World No. 15 in singles (in 1979) and World No. 6 in doubles (in 1984). After retiring from the professional tour in 1986, Gullikson continued to play tennis in seniors events, winning the 35-over singles title at Wimbledon in 1991.
After retiring as a player, Gullikson turned his talents to coaching. He worked with several professional players, including Martina Navratilova, Mary Joe Fernandez
and Aaron Krickstein
. Gullikson is probably best remembered for his work with Pete Sampras
, who won four Grand Slam
singles titles and reached the World No. 1 ranking during the period Gullikson was his coach from the start of 1992 until 1995.
Gullikson suffered a series of strokes while touring with Sampras in the fall of 1994, which were mistakenly traced to a congenital heart problem after German neurologists discovered a blood clot in his brain in December 1994. Gullikson insisted on accompanying Sampras to the Australian Open in January 1995 to help Sampras defend his title there, but Gullikson collapsed during a practice session. After tests at a Melbourne hospital proved inconclusive, Gullikson was sent home to Chicago for further testing, and the worried Sampras cried during his quarter final match against Jim Courier
when a fan called out for Sampras to win the match for Tim. Sampras dedicated that event, where he was runner-up to Andre Agassi
, and all future events to his "great good friend" and mentor. Gullikson was later diagnosed with inoperable brain cancer .
Sampras went on to win fourteen slams in his career, the remaining nine coming when Paul Annacone
was his coach, Gullikson's successor.
Gullikson died in May 1996. After his death, his identical twin brother Tom formed the Tim & Tom Gullikson Foundation, which funds programs to help brain tumor patients and their families with the physical, emotional and social challenges presented by the disease.
Gullikson resided in Boca West, Florida
.
Tennis
Tennis is a sport usually played between two players or between two teams of two players each . Each player uses a racket that is strung to strike a hollow rubber ball covered with felt over a net into the opponent's court. Tennis is an Olympic sport and is played at all levels of society at all...
player and coach who was born in La Crosse, Wisconsin
La Crosse, Wisconsin
La Crosse is a city in and the county seat of La Crosse County, Wisconsin, United States. The city lies alongside the Mississippi River.The 2011 Census Bureau estimates the city had a population of 52,485...
in the United States.
In 1977, he won three tour singles titles and was named the ATP
Association of Tennis Professionals
The Association of Tennis Professionals or ATP was formed in 1972 by Donald Dell, Jack Kramer, and Cliff Drysdale to protect the interests of male professional tennis players. Since 1990, the association has organized the worldwide tennis tour for men and linked the title of the tour with the...
's Newcomer of the Year. During his career as a tennis player, Gullikson won 15 top-level doubles titles, ten of them partnering with his identical twin brother, Tom Gullikson
Tom Gullikson
Tom Gullikson is a tennis coach and former professional tennis player from the United States.-Career:...
. The brothers were runners-up in the men's doubles competition at Wimbledon in 1983. Tim also won a total of four top-level singles titles. His career-high rankings were World No. 15 in singles (in 1979) and World No. 6 in doubles (in 1984). After retiring from the professional tour in 1986, Gullikson continued to play tennis in seniors events, winning the 35-over singles title at Wimbledon in 1991.
After retiring as a player, Gullikson turned his talents to coaching. He worked with several professional players, including Martina Navratilova, Mary Joe Fernandez
Mary Joe Fernández
Mary Joe Fernández Godsick is an American former professional tennis player...
and Aaron Krickstein
Aaron Krickstein
Aaron Krickstein , nicknamed "Marathon Man", is a former American professional tennis player, who competed on the ATP Tour from 1983 to 1996. Born in Ann Arbor, Michigan, he currently competes on the Outback Champions Series Over-30 tour.Krickstein reached his career high ATP ranking of World No....
. Gullikson is probably best remembered for his work with Pete Sampras
Pete Sampras
Pete Sampras is a retired American tennis player and former world no. 1. During his 15-year tour career, he won 14 Grand Slam singles titles and became recognized as one of the greatest tennis players of all time....
, who won four Grand Slam
Grand Slam (tennis)
The four Major tennis tournaments, also called the Slams, are the most important tennis events of the year in terms of world tour ranking points, tradition, prize-money awarded, strength and size of player field, and public attention. They are the Australian Open, the French Open, Wimbledon, and...
singles titles and reached the World No. 1 ranking during the period Gullikson was his coach from the start of 1992 until 1995.
Gullikson suffered a series of strokes while touring with Sampras in the fall of 1994, which were mistakenly traced to a congenital heart problem after German neurologists discovered a blood clot in his brain in December 1994. Gullikson insisted on accompanying Sampras to the Australian Open in January 1995 to help Sampras defend his title there, but Gullikson collapsed during a practice session. After tests at a Melbourne hospital proved inconclusive, Gullikson was sent home to Chicago for further testing, and the worried Sampras cried during his quarter final match against Jim Courier
Jim Courier
James Spencer "Jim" Courier, Jr. is a former world no. 1 professional tennis player from the United States. During his career, he won four Grand Slam singles titles, two at the French Open and two at the Australian Open...
when a fan called out for Sampras to win the match for Tim. Sampras dedicated that event, where he was runner-up to Andre Agassi
Andre Agassi
Andre Kirk Agassi is a retired American professional tennis player and former world no. 1. Generally considered by critics and fellow players to be one of the greatest tennis players of all time, Agassi has been called the best service returner in the history of the game...
, and all future events to his "great good friend" and mentor. Gullikson was later diagnosed with inoperable brain cancer .
Sampras went on to win fourteen slams in his career, the remaining nine coming when Paul Annacone
Paul Annacone
Paul Annacone is a former touring professional tennis player and current well-known tennis coach.-As a college player:...
was his coach, Gullikson's successor.
Gullikson died in May 1996. After his death, his identical twin brother Tom formed the Tim & Tom Gullikson Foundation, which funds programs to help brain tumor patients and their families with the physical, emotional and social challenges presented by the disease.
Gullikson resided in Boca West, Florida
Boca West, Florida
Boca West is an unincorporated community in Palm Beach County, Florida, United States. Boca West was a census-designated place in the 1990 census; its population was then 2847.- Boca West Golf Club :...
.