Gully’s last battle lost

WHEATON. Ulin ois. May 4: Form er tennis player Tim Gullixson, who coached Pet-r Samoras to the

number one ranking in the world died of brain cancer on Friday He was 44 reports Reuter

Gullikson who enjoyed most of hi* tennis success playing doubles with his iden Heal twin brother. Tom. had been fighting the disease for more than a year

Today I lost a dear friend and coach.' said Sampras, from his home in Tampa. Florida, in a statement issued by the ATP Tour 'But we all lost a special person.

"My prayers are with his wife Rosemary and his two children, Erik and Megan '

The universally well-liked Gullikson made his last coach lug appearance with Sampras at the 1995 Australian Open, which he left abruptly to return home after falling 111 He was subsequently diagnosed with brain cancer

Sampras continued to battle through the draw to the final playing a memorable quarterfl nal match with Jim Courier—a match that saw Sampras weep openly on the court during the fifth set when a fan called out for him to win it for Gullikson

Despite bls personal ordeal Gullikson continued to counsel Sampras via telephone throughout the year

Gullikson. affectionately knows as 'Gully.' was last seen publicly at Sampras s side when he unofficially coached Sampras during a dead rubber match at the Davis Cup semifinals between the United States and Sweden last September

Tim made the trip to Las Vegas snd provided a huge emotional lift to Sampras and brother Tom. the US Davis Cup captain merely by his pres ence at courtside

Under Gulllkson's tutelage Sampras blossomed Into a mill tlple Wimbledon and US Open winnei and finished slop the ATP Tour rankings for three consecutive years

As a singles player Gulllk son s finest hour came at Wim bledon tn 1979 when he-upset John McEnroe In the round of 16 and went on to reach the quarterfinals, his best singles result In a Grand Slam tour nament

In all he won lour singles titles Init tiecaine a very jiopu lar figure on the international tenuis circuit in the 1970s as the right handed half of the Clullikaon twins doubles team

Gulllkaon won 10 ol his 16 doubles titles with brothel

Tom and the pair also reached the finals at Wimbledon in 1983.

Tim Gulllkson retired from the pro circuit In 1986 and made a successful iransition to coaching. working with Martina Navratilova. Mary Joe Fernandez. Aaron Krickstein and Barbara Potter before teaming with Sampras in Jan-uary 1992.

The funeral will be held Tuesday in Wheaton, a suburb of Chicago, the family said