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Sept. 15, 1999
FLUSHING, N.Y. – Second-year Virginia Men’s Tennis Coach Dick Stocktonteamed with Tom Gullikson to win the U.S. Open Men’s Masters 45s Doublestitle at the USTA National Tennis Center in Flushing, N.Y., on Sunday,September 12. Stockton and Gullikson defeated Robert Lutz and Stan Smith6-3, 6-2 to earn the title.
Stockton and Gullikson advanced to the finals by winning theirgroup with a perfect 3-0 record in round robin play. Lutz and Smith wonthe other four-team group to advance to the finals. The MastersChampionship is the fifth title that Stockton and Gullikson have combinedto win. Stockton also captured the U.S. Open 45-and-Over DoublesChampionship in 1996. Earlier this summer, Stockton advanced to theWimbledon Semifinals with Jaime Fillol, but fell to Gullikson and BrianGottfried (6-2, 4-6, 6-4).
In addition to the two U.S. Open 45s Championships, Stockton wonthe 1997 Wimbledon 45-and-Over Doubles title as well as the 1997 WorldDoubles Championship. His dominating play in singles, doubles and mixeddoubles earned him a ranking in the U.S. Top Ten six times. At the peak ofhis professional career, Stockton was ranked #8 in the world (1977). In1986, he was ranked #1 in the world in the 35-and-Over Division and wasranked #4 in 1987.
In his first season as a collegiate coach in 1998-99, Stockton led theVirginia men’s tennis team to a 14-10 record. The Cavaliers garnered theirthird straight bid to the NCAA Team Championships and eighth overall. Apair of Stockton’s players were also invited to the NCAA IndividualChampionships. Brian Vahaly was selected to compete in both singles anddoubles play, while Huntley Montgomery teamed with Vahaly in the doublescompetition.
Virginia kicks off the 1999 fall men’s tennis season by competingin the National Clay Court Championships, in Baltimore, Md., September18-26.