RICKY DIMON LOOKS @ ISNER HIRING GIMELSTOB, TOP THREE AMERICAN MEN ALL HAVE NEW COACHES

Written by: on 11th December 2014
Wimbledon Championships
RICKY DIMON LOOKS @ ISNER HIRING GIMELSTOB, TOP THREE AMERICAN MEN ALL HAVE NEW COACHES

epa04291327 John Isner of USA returns to Feliciano Lopez of Spain in their fourth round match during the Wimbledon Championships at the All England Lawn Tennis Club, in London, Britain, 30 June 2014. EPA/TATYANA ZENKOVICH  |

With Isner hiring Gimelstob, top three American men all have new coaches

 

By Ricky Dimon

 

No American man has won a Grand Slam singles title since Andy Roddick triumphed at the 2003 U.S. Open. No American man reached the fourth round of a major tournament in 2013. No American man finished 2014 in the top 15.

 

Time to change thinks up a bit, ya think?

 

The top three American men seem to think so.

 

With John Isner’s hiring of Justin Gimelstob on Wednesday, the United States’ top malesingles players are all heading into 2015 under the direction of new coaches. Sam Querrey, ranked 16 spots behind his 6’10” countryman at No. 35 in the world, is now being coached by Tom Gullikson. Steve Johnson, two places behind Querrey at 37th, is working with former University of Southern California teammate Peter Lucassen.

 

Justin Gimelstob of the USA hits a backhand to Tommy Haas of Germany in their first round match at the Regions Morgan Keegan Championships at the Racquet Club of Memphis in Memphis, Tennessee on Wednesday, 22 February 2006. Haas won the match 2-1 when Gimelstob withdrew with a strained back. EPA/TANNEN MAURY

Gimelstob peaked at No. 63 in the world in singles and won 13 ATP doubles titles. He retired in 2007, a few months after losing the final Grand Slam match of his career to Roddick at the U.S. Open. In addition to coaching Isner, Gimelstob will be juggling his current duties as a Tennis Channel broadcaster and ATP board member.

 

“I am excited for the new challenge, and look forward to pursuing it with a player that I believe in so much,” the 37-year-old said. “I have had a great relationship with John for years and think we will communicate really well as player and coach. I would be remiss if I didn’t mention how supportive both Tennis Channel and the ATP Player Council have been. Tennis Channel’s willingness to be flexible with my on air scheduling at events John is participating in and the Player Council’s blessing were significant factors in me pursing this opportunity.”

 

“With Justin I believe I will have a strong and passionate new voice on my team,” Isner explained. “In spending some time with Justin throughout the fall I have full confidence that he has a clear vision for my game and an understanding of what I need to do in order to play my best tennis.”

 

Gullikson, meanwhile, was the United States’ Davis Cup captain from 1994 through 1999. Lucassen had been working as a volunteer assistant at USC before jumping on board with Johnson.

 

Ricky contributes to 10sballs.com and also maintains his own tennis website, The Grandstand.

Topics: , , , , , , , , ,








10sBalls Top Stories

In Case You Missed It

EUGENIE BOUCHARD NAMED 2018 TENNIS CANADA FEMALE PLAYER OF THE YEAR / EUGENIE BOUCHARD NOMMÉE JOUEUSE DE L’ANNÉE 2018 DE TENNIS CANADA thumbnail

EUGENIE BOUCHARD NAMED 2018 TENNIS CANADA FEMALE PLAYER OF THE YEAR / EUGENIE BOUCHARD NOMMÉE JOUEUSE DE L’ANNÉE 2018 DE TENNIS CANADA

Tennis Canada announced on Wednesday that Eugenie Bouchard is the winner of the 2018 Excellence Awards in the Female Player of the Year and Singles Player of the Year categories.
TENNIS NEWS • CALIFORNIA CHAMPIONSHIPS • TOMMY HAAS, TAYLOR FRITZ, STEVE JOHNSON, MARDY FISH AND MORE thumbnail

TENNIS NEWS • CALIFORNIA CHAMPIONSHIPS • TOMMY HAAS, TAYLOR FRITZ, STEVE JOHNSON, MARDY FISH AND MORE

Time to get tickets to watch! Surly you have heard about The Largest Open Tennis Event in America!
TENNIS NEWS • RAFA NADAL CONFIRMS RETURN TO PRACTICE, EYES ABU DHABI EXHIBITION AND AUSTRALIAN SUMMER thumbnail

TENNIS NEWS • RAFA NADAL CONFIRMS RETURN TO PRACTICE, EYES ABU DHABI EXHIBITION AND AUSTRALIAN SUMMER

According to Uncle Toni, Rafael Nadal was supposed to be back at practice on either Dec. 4 or 5. Well, better late than never!
Conchita Martínez prepara la temporada 2019 de Karolina Pliskova en Tenerife thumbnail

Conchita Martínez prepara la temporada 2019 de Karolina Pliskova en Tenerife

Española y checa ya trabajaron juntas durante el pasado Open de Estados Unidos
ALEJANDRO’S FAVORITE PHOTOS FOR 10SBALLS FROM SOME OF THIS YEAR’S TOURNAMENTS thumbnail

ALEJANDRO’S FAVORITE PHOTOS FOR 10SBALLS FROM SOME OF THIS YEAR’S TOURNAMENTS

Jelena Ostapenko of Latvia hits a forehand to Kaia Kanepi of Estonia during her second round match at the Nature Valley International tennis tournament in Eastbourne, Great Britain, on Tuesday, June 26, 2018.