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

Written by: Staff on 11th December 2014

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: Andy Roddick, Atp, John Isner, Justin Gimelstob, Ricky Dimon, Sam Querrey, Steve Johnson, Tennis, Tennis Channel, Tom Gullikson

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10sBalls_com says:

December 11, 2014 at 8:45 pm

-@RD_Tennistalk LOOKS @JohnIsner HIRING @justingimelstob, TOP THREE AMERICAN MEN ALL HAVE NEW COACHES- http://t.co/X4GMKTmfon #tennis #ATP