Jose Higueras receives 2023 Tim Gullikson Career Coach Award

Jose Higueras, who worked with American greats like Pete Sampras and Jennifer Capriati during his coaching career, was honored with the Tim Gullikson Career Coach Award on Monday as part of the 2023 ATP Awards.

Higueras also spent time with Roger Federer, as well as with Americans Jim Courier, Mary Joe Fernandez and Michael Chang. In 1989, he coached a 17-year-old Chang to the Roland Garros title.

In addition to his work with those legends, Higueras was an instrumental part of the growth of USTA Player Development for more than a decade. He joined the coaching staff in 2008, when he was hired by Patrick McEnroe to oversee PD's coaching efforts.

In addition to his prolific coaching career, Higueras also reached a career-high of world No. 6 in his playing days, winning 16 tour-level singles titles and advancing to the Roland Garros semifinals in 1982 and 1983. He also won the ATP Sportsmanship Award in 1983.

The 70-year-old Spaniard is the third recipient of the Tim Gullikson Career Coach Award, after Australians Tony Roche (2019) and Bob Brett (2020). According to the ATP, the recipient "exemplifies excellence, leadership, respect, and a true love for the sport of tennis and the art of coaching," while the award "showcases someone who has inspired generations of young players and fellow coaches to grow the sport of tennis."

The honor is named after American Tim Gullikson, a former Top 15 singles player and world No. 3 doubles player who coached Pete Sampras from 1992-95. Gullikson, who coached Sampras to four Grand Slam singles titles and the world No. 1 ranking, passed away in 1996 at age 44 after being diagnosed with brain cancer.