Tim Wilkison
Tim Wilkison (born November 23, 1959) is a former professional tennis player from the United States.
Country (sports) | ![]() |
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Residence | Charlotte, North Carolina |
Born | Shelby, North Carolina | November 23, 1959
Height | 5 ft 11 in (1.80 m) |
Turned pro | 1979 |
Retired | 1993 |
Plays | Left-handed |
Prize money | $1,289,085 |
Singles | |
Career record | 294-296 (ATP, Grand Prix, WCT & Grand Slam-level & Davis Cup) |
Career titles | 6 |
Highest ranking | No. 23 (September 29, 1986) |
Grand Slam Singles results | |
Australian Open | 4R (1985, 1987) |
French Open | 2R (1990) |
Wimbledon | 3R (1979, 1981) |
US Open | QF (1986) |
Doubles | |
Career record | 263-257 (ATP, Grand Prix, WCT & Grand Slam-level & Davis Cup) |
Career titles | 10 |
Highest ranking | No. 21 (July 31, 1989) |
Grand Slam Doubles results | |
Australian Open | SF (1979) |
French Open | 3R (1985) |
Wimbledon | SF (1979) |
US Open | QF (1979) |
Tennis career
Wilkison was the No. 1 ranked junior in the United States and played on the tour for over 25 years. The left-hander won six singles titles, ten doubles championships, and reached a career-high singles ranking of world No. 23 in September 1986. Wilkison is perhaps best known for his diving volleys at Wimbledon that earned him the nickname "Dr. Dirt".
In his playing career, Wilkison had victories over Arthur Ashe, Stan Smith, Roscoe Tanner, Guillermo Vilas, Yannick Noah, Boris Becker, Jim Courier, John McEnroe, Andre Agassi, and Pete Sampras.
His best Grand Slam singles result came at the 1986 US Open, where he reached the quarterfinals by defeating Horst Skoff, Paul McNamee, Yannick Noah and Andrei Chesnokov, before losing to Stefan Edberg in straight sets. Wilkison has stated that his preferred surface is clay.
His eldest son, MacLane, now plays at UNC.
Career finals
Singles: 15 (6 titles, 9 runner-ups)
Result | No. | Date | Tournament | Surface | Opponent | Score |
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Loss | 1. | 1977 | Auckland, New Zealand | Grass | ![]() |
6–7, 7–5, 1–6, 2–6 |
Win | 1. | 1978 | Sydney Outdoor, Australia | Grass | ![]() |
6–3, 6–3, 6–7, 3–6, 6–2 |
Win | 2. | 1979 | Auckland, New Zealand | Hard | ![]() |
6–3, 4–6, 6–4, 2–6, 6–2 |
Loss | 2. | 1980 | Auckland, New Zealand | Hard | ![]() |
4–6, 6–3, 3–6, 4–6 |
Loss | 3. | 1980 | Maui, U.S. | Hard | ![]() |
6–7, 3–6 |
Loss | 4. | 1981 | Auckland, New Zealand | Hard | ![]() |
7–6, 3–6, 6–3, 6–7, 0–6 |
Win | 3. | 1981 | Sydney Outdoor, Australia | Grass | ![]() |
6–4, 7–6, 6–3 |
Win | 4. | 1982 | Auckland, New Zealand | Hard | ![]() |
6–4, 6–4, 6–4 |
Loss | 5. | 1984 | North Conway, U.S. | Clay | ![]() |
2–6, 5–7 |
Loss | 6. | 1984 | Basel, Switzerland | Hard (i) | ![]() |
3–6, 6–3, 4–6, 2–6 |
Win | 5. | 1984 | Vienna, Austria | Carpet (i) | ![]() |
6–1, 6–1, 6–2 |
Win | 6. | 1985 | Nancy, France | Carpet (i) | ![]() |
4–6, 7–6, 9–7 |
Loss | 7. | 1986 | Atlanta, U.S. | Carpet (i) | ![]() |
6–7, 6–7 |
Loss | 8. | 1986 | Newport, U.S. | Grass | ![]() |
5–7, 4–6 |
Loss | 9. | 1987 | Bristol, England | Grass | ![]() |
4–6, 6–7 |
Doubles: 24 (10 titles, 14 runner-ups)
Result | No. | Date | Tournament | Surface | Partner | Opponents | Score |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Loss | 1. | 1979 | North Conway, U.S. | Clay | ![]() |
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4–6, 6–7 |
Loss | 2. | 1980 | Auckland, New Zealand | Hard | ![]() |
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2–6, 5–7 |
Win | 1. | 1980 | Manchester, England | Grass | ![]() |
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6–7, 7–5, 6–2 |
Loss | 3. | 1980 | Melbourne Indoor, Australia | Carpet (i) | ![]() |
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1–6, 2–6 |
Win | 2. | 1981 | Auckland, New Zealand | Hard | ![]() |
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7–5, 6–1 |
Win | 3. | 1981 | Vienna, Austria | Carpet (i) | ![]() |
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4–6, 6–3, 6–4 |
Loss | 4. | 1982 | Taipei, Taiwan | Carpet (i) | ![]() |
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3–6, 6–7 |
Loss | 5. | 1984 | Bari, Italy | Clay | ![]() |
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6–2, 6–7, 4–6 |
Loss | 6. | 1984 | Basel, Switzerland | Hard (i) | ![]() |
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6–7, 2–6 |
Win | 4. | 1984 | Treviso, Italy | Clay | ![]() |
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7–5, 6–3 |
Loss | 7. | 1984 | Toulouse, France | Hard (i) | ![]() |
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4–6, 2–6 |
Loss | 8. | 1985 | Basel, Switzerland | Hard (i) | ![]() |
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6–4, 4–6, 4–6 |
Win | 5. | 1986 | Newport, U.S. | Grass | ![]() |
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4–6, 7–5, 7–6 |
Loss | 9. | 1987 | Los Angeles, U.S. | Hard | ![]() |
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3–6, 4–6 |
Win | 6. | 1987 | Vienna, Austria | Carpet (i) | ![]() |
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6–3, 7–5 |
Loss | 10. | 1988 | Toronto, Canada | Hard | ![]() |
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6–7, 3–6 |
Win | 7. | 1988 | Rye Brook, U.S. | Hard | ![]() |
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4–6, 7–5, 7–6 |
Loss | 11. | 1988 | San Francisco, U.S. | Carpet | ![]() |
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4–6, 6–7 |
Win | 8. | 1988 | Scottsdale, U.S. | Hard | ![]() |
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6–4, 7–6 |
Loss | 12. | 1988 | Johannesburg, South Africa | Hard (i) | ![]() |
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6–7, 4–6 |
Loss | 13. | 1989 | Memphis, U.S. | Hard (i) | ![]() |
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6–7, 7–6, 1–6 |
Loss | 14. | 1989 | Rio de Janeiro, Brazil | Carpet | ![]() |
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6–2, 4–6, 4–6 |
Win | 9. | 1989 | Bristol, England | Grass | ![]() |
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7–6, 6–4 |
Win | 10. | 1989 | Livingston, U.S. | Hard | ![]() |
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7–5, 6–3 |