Twenty national junior championships. Twenty-four professional titles. Three hall of fame honors.
If all of the above wasn't enough for Virginia men's tennis coach Dick Stockton, he can add one more prize to his collection.
In a ceremony at the United Nations building in New York, N.Y., the United States Tennis Association will induct Stockton into its Eastern Tennis Hall of Fame tonight, acknowledging the 50-year-old coach for his distinguished playing career. Stockton and fellow 2001 inductees Paul Cranis, George Seewagen and Lee Jackson make up the Eastern Tennis Hall of Fame's 14th class. The four will join a select group that includes celebrated names like 1997 inductee John McEnroe and 1988 inductee Arthur Ashe.
"I am humbled by the honor," Stockton said. "What a thrill it is for me personally to join such an elite group. I am truly honored to be going into the Eastern Tennis Hall of Fame."
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Stockton's career began early, and it immediately was clear that he would be a force in the world of tennis. Stockton showed determination and concentration from the start. His mother, Dorothy, said he could be playing and not even notice if the clubhouse caught on fire.
Stockton established himself as a feared junior champion, and his 20 national titles were the second-most recorded in the United States. During his college tennis career at Trinity University from 1969-72, he garnered All-American honors four times. He also won the NCAA singles championship and led Trinity to a national championship in 1972.
"There's never been a better junior player," said Jimmy Connors of Stockton.
As a professional singles player, Stockton was ranked as high as No. 8 in the world. He reached the semifinals of Wimbledon in 1974, the quarterfinals of the U.S. Open in 1976 and 1977, and the semifinals of the French Open in 1978. He also played on five U.S. Davis Cup Teams, including the 1979 championship squad, and was the 1977 U.S. Pro Indoor Champion. He defeated legends such as Arthur Ashe, Bjorn Borg and Jimmy Connors.
In addition, Stockton is a two-time Grand Slam titleholder in doubles. He won the U.S. Open mixed doubles with Rosie Casals in 1975 and the French Open mixed doubles with Anne Smith in 1984. He was also the World Mixed Doubles Champion for three straight years, 1975-77.
Stockton continued his career into the senior circuit, where he became a three-time U.S. Open 35-and-over doubles champion and a three-time U.S. Open 45-and-over doubles champion. His most recent title came at the 2000 U.S. Open, where he teamed with partner Tom Gullikson to win his third 45-and-over title.
There should be no surprise that the USTA would honor Stockton. He has an illustrious tennis career that includes championships at the highest levels of the national and international game for over 40 years.
"Out of the 20th century, there were 25 to 50 players who grew up training in the Eastern section and became great players in history," said the USTA's Nancy McShea, who served on this year's selection committee for the Hall of Fame. "Dick is one of them"
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