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EXCLUSIVE:
THE
SCOOP: TUESDAY, DECEMBER 4
Annacone
moving on from coaching Sampras
By
Sandra Harwitt
tennisreporters.net
A frequent and reliable source of tennisreporters.net confirmed
a rumor that has been circulating the past couple of weeks in
tennis circles – after a long and successful seven-year partnership,
Paul Annacone will not be coaching good friend Pete Sampras in
2002. The rumor has been out there for a few weeks with other
news organizations chasing the story and on Tuesday evening by
phone, a tr.net friend validated the rumor.
Apparently,
Pete and Paul chatted about the future of their relationship in
the past month and decided that Annacone would be prudent not
to pass up some of the enticing offers that were coming his way.
While there isn’t firm confirmation on this fact yet, don’t
be surprised to hear that Annacone will assume the vacant position
of USTA Director of Coaching. And don’t be surprised if you
hear that the new coach of record for Sampras will be none other
than Tom Gullikson.
Gullikson and Sampras have a long history together as friends
and it was Gullikson’s twin brother, Tim, who coached Sampras
to the world No. 1 ranking and the most formidable player in the
game. The late Tim Gullikson coached Sampras until 1995 when he
was diagnosed with brain cancer and Annacone took over the position.
Tom Gullikson has also worked with Sampras in a coaching capacity
when as the Davis Cup captain he coached Pete to the only Davis
Cup title in Russia in 1995.
If Gullikson is brought on board, he will be the latest of three
comfortable coaching relationships that Sampras has experienced
in an impressive career that brought a record 13 Grand Slam titles.
Sampras has had excellent working relationships with his coaches
and Tom Gullikson will be perfect in bringing out the best in
Sampras during the twilight years of his career.
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