Tim Gullikson
Timothy Ernest Gullikson (September 8, 1951 – May 3, 1996) was an American professional tennis player and coach, best known for guiding Pete Sampras to multiple Grand Slam titles and the world No. 1 ranking.[1][2] Born in La Crosse, Wisconsin, and raised in Onalaska, he graduated from Onalaska High School in 1969 and attended Northern Illinois University, where he competed in tennis and basketball, achieving a 75-14 record in No. 2 singles and qualifying for the NCAA Division I championships three times.[3][4] The younger identical twin of left-handed player Tom Gullikson, Tim was right-handed and turned professional after working as a teaching pro in Dayton, Ohio.[1] He died at age 44 in Wheaton, Illinois, from inoperable brain cancer diagnosed in January 1995, survived by his wife Rosemary, son Erik, daughter Megan, twin brother Tom, mother Joyce, brother Gary, and sister SueEllen.[2][5] As a player, Gullikson earned ATP Newcomer of the Year honors in 1977 after rising from No. 112 to No. 28 in the rankings, and he reached a career-high singles ranking of No. 15 in October 1979.[1][3] He won four singles titles and 16 doubles titles, including 10 alongside his brother Tom, with whom he finished as runners-up in the 1983 Wimbledon doubles final.[2][5] One of his most notable achievements was upsetting John McEnroe in the round of 16 at the 1979 Wimbledon Championships, advancing to the quarterfinals.[3][5] Over his career, which ended with retirement in 1986, he compiled a 272-222 record and earned $1,121,880 in prize money.[1] Gullikson was inducted into the Northern Illinois University Athletics Hall of Fame in 1984 for his collegiate and professional accomplishments.[3] Gullikson's coaching career solidified his legacy in tennis, particularly through his work with Pete Sampras starting in January 1992, after being recommended by his brother Tom (then under contract with the USTA).[5] Under Gullikson's guidance, Sampras ascended to the world No. 1 ranking in 1993 and captured six Grand Slam titles, including three consecutive Wimbledon championships from 1993 to 1995, while developing a strong work ethic and personal bond with his coach.[2] He also coached top players such as Aaron Krickstein, Mary Joe Fernandez, and Martina Navratilova, contributing to their successes on the tour.[2][4] After his death, Tom Gullikson assumed Sampras's coaching role, and Tim's influence endured as a source of inspiration in his hometown of Onalaska, commemorated by a historical marker.[5][4]Early life and education
Family background
Timothy Ernest Gullikson was born on September 8, 1951, in La Crosse, Wisconsin, as the identical twin brother of Tom Gullikson, arriving just minutes after his brother.[2] The family relocated shortly thereafter to nearby Onalaska, Wisconsin, where Tim spent his formative years in a modest household; his father worked as a barber, while his mother was employed at a local grocery store.[6] Growing up in this working-class environment, Gullikson was influenced by his close-knit family, particularly the inseparable bond with his twin brother, with whom he shared numerous childhood activities that sparked an early enthusiasm for athletics. Their mother played a key role in encouraging physical pursuits, enrolling the energetic twins in organized programs to direct their boundless energy into structured endeavors. This familial support laid the groundwork for their mutual passion for sports, fostering a competitive yet collaborative dynamic that defined their early development.Youth and tennis development
Tim Gullikson and his identical twin brother Tom grew up in Onalaska, Wisconsin, where they attended Onalaska High School and first began playing tennis competitively during their youth.[4] The brothers, born in 1951, immersed themselves in the sport alongside other athletics, competing in local and state junior ranks throughout the middle to late 1960s.[7] Their early training was informal and community-based, reflecting the limited structured programs available in rural Wisconsin at the time, with practice occurring on public courts and school facilities.[1] At Onalaska High School, the Gulliksons quickly established themselves as standout players, culminating in a significant achievement during their junior year. In 1967, as high school juniors, Tim and Tom won the Wisconsin Interscholastic Athletic Association (WIAA) state doubles championship, contributing to Onalaska's strong performance in the team competition.[8] This victory highlighted their synchronized play and emerging talent, honed through local tournaments and high school matches that built their foundational skills in doubles and singles. Graduating in 1969, the brothers had already gained recognition in Wisconsin's junior circuit, setting the stage for higher-level competition.[4] Following high school, the Gulliksons transitioned from amateur youth play to college tennis, receiving a joint scholarship offer from Northern Illinois University (NIU), the only program to recruit them as a pair.[9] At NIU, they played from 1969 to 1973, lettering in both tennis and basketball while qualifying for three NCAA Championships, which provided rigorous development before their professional pursuits.[3] Tim compiled a 75-14 career record at No. 2 singles.[3] This collegiate path bridged their regional success to the international stage, emphasizing education alongside athletic growth.[1]Playing career
Singles achievements
Tim Gullikson turned professional in 1977, launching a competitive career on the ATP Tour that saw him amass an overall singles record of 272–222.[10] In his debut year, he secured three ATP singles titles—the Hall of Fame Tennis Championships in Newport, the Adelaide tournament, and the Taipei Summit Open—earning him the ATP Newcomer of the Year award.[11][12] Gullikson added a fourth singles title in 1978 by winning the South African Open in Johannesburg, where he defeated Harold Solomon in the final. His consistent baseline game and endurance allowed him to grind out matches against top competition, exemplified by his upset victory over the 14th-seeded John McEnroe in the round of 16 at the 1979 Wimbledon Championships.[1] Gullikson reached a career-high singles ranking of No. 15 on October 1, 1979, reflecting his steady rise and reliability in extended rallies during the late 1970s and early 1980s.[13]Doubles accomplishments
Tim Gullikson enjoyed a successful doubles career on the ATP Tour, highlighted by his long-standing partnership with his identical twin brother, Tom Gullikson. Together, the brothers captured 10 ATP doubles titles, leveraging their innate synchronization honed from years of playing as partners since high school and college. This twin dynamic allowed for seamless court coordination, with Tim noting their ability to anticipate each other's movements without verbal cues, creating a formidable team that qualified for the Masters doubles event in both 1983 and 1984.[11][1] Beyond their sibling collaboration, Gullikson secured six additional ATP doubles titles with other partners, including victories at tournaments such as the 1979 Grand Prix de Toulouse alongside Francisco Gonzalez and the 1982 Bristol Open with Billy Martin. These wins underscored his versatility as a doubles specialist, often employing a serve-and-volley strategy that complemented various playing styles. Overall, Gullikson amassed 16 ATP doubles titles during his professional tenure, establishing him as a consistent performer in the discipline.[14][11] Gullikson's doubles prowess peaked with a career-high ranking of World No. 3 in 1983, reflecting his impact on the tour during an era dominated by strong teams like the McEnroe-Fleming duo. His total doubles achievements, including the brotherly titles and individual pairings, contributed to a robust record that solidified his reputation as one of the top American doubles players of the late 1970s and early 1980s.[15]Grand Slam performances
Tim Gullikson's most notable singles achievement at a Grand Slam came at the 1979 Wimbledon Championships, where he advanced to the quarterfinals after defeating the 14th-seeded John McEnroe in the fourth round, before falling to eighth-seeded Roscoe Tanner in straight sets.[3][16] He reached the fourth round on three other occasions: at the 1979 US Open, where he was defeated by Vitas Gerulaitis; at the French Open in 1978, losing to Manuel Orantes, and again in 1979 against Hans Gildemeister; and at the Australian Open in both 1983 and 1985.[17][18][19][20][21] In doubles, Gullikson's strongest showing was as runner-up at the 1983 Wimbledon Championships alongside his identical twin brother Tom, where the pair lost in the final to Peter Fleming and John McEnroe, 6–4, 6–3, 6–4.[14][16] The brothers also reached the semifinals at the Australian Open in 1982 and 1983.[3] Gullikson's overall Grand Slam doubles record stood at 29 wins and 21 losses, with much of his success coming in partnership with Tom.[17]Career statistics
Overall ATP records
Tim Gullikson compiled a professional ATP Tour career spanning from 1977 to 1986, during which he achieved a singles win-loss record of 272–222 across 494 matches, yielding a win percentage of approximately 55%. He secured 4 singles titles and 16 doubles titles, with the latter predominantly partnered alongside his twin brother Tom, including 10 with Tom and notable successes such as the 1982 and 1983 US Open doubles semifinals. His prize money earnings totaled $1,121,880 across both disciplines.[10][22] Gullikson's ranking progression reflected his peak performance in the late 1970s, reaching a career-high singles ranking of No. 15 on October 1, 1979, while his doubles ranking peaked at No. 3 in 1983. Year-end singles rankings showed steady improvement early on, followed by a gradual decline as he transitioned toward coaching. The table below summarizes his year-end ATP singles rankings from 1979 to 1987, highlighting his active professional years.| Year | Year-End Singles Ranking |
|---|---|
| 1979 | 24 |
| 1980 | 46 |
| 1981 | 52 |
| 1982 | 50 |
| 1983 | 35 |
| 1984 | 99 |
| 1985 | 153 |
| 1986 | 414 |
| 1987 | 417 |
Grand Slam timeline
Tim Gullikson competed in Grand Slam tournaments from 1977 to 1986, achieving his career-best singles result of a quarterfinal appearance at the 1979 Wimbledon, where he upset John McEnroe before losing to Roscoe Tanner.[3][16] His other notable singles performances included fourth-round finishes at the 1978 French Open (lost to Manuel Orantes), 1979 French Open, 1979 US Open, 1983 Australian Open, and 1985 Australian Open.[24] In doubles, primarily partnering with his twin brother Tom, Gullikson reached the 1983 Wimbledon final (lost to John McEnroe and Peter Fleming), semifinals at the 1982 and 1983 Australian Open, and semifinals at the 1982 US Open, while advancing to the third round at the French Open in 1977, 1978, 1979, and 1980. These peaks highlight Gullikson's stronger showings on grass and hard courts compared to clay, with multiple deep runs at the Australian Open and Wimbledon. The following table provides a year-by-year overview of his Grand Slam results in singles and doubles, with rounds reached where verified; absences or early-round exits (typically first or second round) are noted as "A" for absent or limited participation data, as comprehensive match-by-match records for all years are not uniformly available from archival sources.| Year | Australian Open Singles | Australian Open Doubles | French Open Singles | French Open Doubles | Wimbledon Singles | Wimbledon Doubles | US Open Singles | US Open Doubles |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1977 | A | A | A | 3R (w/Tom) | A | A | A | A |
| 1978 | A | A | 4R | 3R (w/Tom) | 3R | A | 2R | A |
| 1979 | 3R | A | 4R | 3R (w/Tom) | QF | A | 4R | A |
| 1980 | 2R | A | A | 3R (w/Tom) | 4R | A | 2R | A |
| 1981 | 3R | A | 3R | A | 3R | A | 3R | A |
| 1982 | 1R | SF (w/Tom) | 2R | A | 2R | A | 1R | SF (w/Tom) |
| 1983 | 4R | SF (w/Tom) | A | A | 1R | F (w/Tom) | 1R | A |
| 1984 | 2R | A | 1R | A | 1R | A | 2R | A |
| 1985 | 4R | A | A | A | 1R | A | A | A |
| 1986 | A | A | A | A | A | A | 1R | A |