USPTA to induct Van der Meer, Gullikson
September 10, 2015
HOUSTON – Dennis Van der Meer and Tom Gullikson will be the latest tennis-teaching professionals to be inducted into the United States Professional Tennis Association (USPTA) Hall of Fame. USPTA, the world’s oldest and largest association of tennis-teaching professionals, will recognize both men at its annual national awards presentation during the USPTA World Conference at the Hilton New Orleans Riverside on Friday, Sept. 25 beginning at noon.
“Both of these men have made an incredible impact on our profession and in the tennis industry, and USPTA is honored to be able to recognize them,” said USPTA CEO John Embree. “Throughout their careers, they have made an enormous impact to our mission of elevating the standards of tennis-teaching professionals and coaches across the country and around the world.”
Van der Meer and Gullikson will join the ranks of only 16 others when they are inducted into the USPTA Hall of Fame. The association’s highest honor recognizes excellence in the tennis profession and commitment to USPTA.
Van der Meer founded the Professional Tennis Registry in 1976, which elected him to its Hall of Fame. He became one of the first registered coaches of both the ATP and WTA, and has coached hundreds of nationally and internationally ranked professional and junior players throughout his career, including world champions in singles and doubles players.
Gullikson is the lead national coach for men’s tennis with USTA Player Development. He has coached top players such as Todd Martin, Jennifer Capriati and Andy Roddick, and he was the U.S. Davis Cup captain from 1994-1999. As a player, Gullikson won 16 top-level doubles titles, 10 of them with his twin brother, Tim. Tom earned his only Grand Slam title in 1984 at the US Open, taking home the mixed doubles championship with partner Manuela Maleeva. Tom joins his brother Tim as the only siblings in the USPTA Hall of Fame.
The USPTA National Awards program is conducted annually. Nominations are submitted by the organization’s 17 divisions and by individuals. Recipients in each category are decided by the USPTA Awards Committee. For more information on USPTA’s annual awards program, visit uspta.com/awards.