Article · Wikipedia archive · Last revised Jun 24, 2026

John Whitlinger

John Whitlinger is a former professional tennis player from the United States.

Last revised
Jun 24, 2026
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≈ 2 min
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528 w
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Source
John Whitlinger
Country (sports) United States
Born (1954-02-04) February 4, 1954
Height5 ft 9 in (175 cm)
Retired1982
PlaysRight-handed
CollegeStanford2
Singles
Career record45–77
Career titles0
Highest rankingNo. 75 (June 2, 1975)
Grand Slam singles results
French Open1R (1977)
Wimbledon1R (1976)
US Open1R (1974, 1975, 1976)
Doubles
Career record75–97
Career titles1
Highest rankingNo. 854 (January 3, 1983)
Grand Slam doubles results
French Open1R (1977)
Wimbledon1R (1976)
US Open3R (1975)
Coaching achievements
Coachee singles titles total1 (2010, Bradley Klahn)
Coachees doubles titles total1 (2004, KC Corkery and Sam Worburg)
Coaching awards and records
Awards

1997 ITA National Assistant Coach of the Year

John Whitlinger (born February 4, 1954) is a former professional tennis player from the United States.

Playing career

Whitlinger played in 10 majors in his career.3 He won one doubles title in his career and reached the round of 16 in singles at the Cincinnati Open in 1974. As a collegiate player at Stanford, he won the NCAA “triple crown” of tennis (singles, doubles, and team championships) in 1974.

Career finals

Doubles (1–6)

Result W/L Date Tournament Surface Partner Opponents Score
Loss 0–1 Aug 1974 Cincinnati, U.S. Hard United States James Delaney United States Dick Dell
United States Sherwood Stewart
6–4, 6–7, 2–6
Loss 0–2 Jul 1975 Chicago, U.S. Carpet United States Mike Cahill Australia John Alexander
Australia Phil Dent
3–6, 4–6
Loss 0–3 Apr 1976 Sacramento, U.S. Carpet United States Mike Cahill United States Tom Gorman
United States Sherwood Stewart
6–3, 4–6, 4–6
Loss 0–4 Aug 1976 Boston, U.S. Clay United States Mike Cahill Australia Ray Ruffels
Australia Allan Stone
6–3, 3–6, 6–7
Win 1–4 Sep 1976 Bermuda Clay United States Mike Cahill Australia Dick Crealy
Australia Ray Ruffels
6–4, 4–6, 7–6
Loss 1–5 May 1977 Munich, Germany Clay Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia Nikola Špear Czechoslovakia František Pala
Hungary Balázs Taróczy
3–6, 4–6
Loss 1–6 Oct 1977 Perth, Australia Hard United States Nick Saviano Australia Ray Ruffels
Australia Allan Stone
2–6, 1–6

Coaching career

Whitlinger coached the Stanford men's tennis team as an associate from 1987 to 2004, and as head coach from 2005 until his retirement in 2014.2 He coached KC Corkery and Sam Warburg to the 2004 NCAA Doubles Championship and Bradley Klahn to the 2010 NCAA Singles Championship.

Personal

Whitlinger married his wife, Jan Martin, in 1980. Whitlinger's son J.J. (John Jr.) Whitlinger is a men's tennis coach at Furman University.4 His daughter, Dr. Claire Whitlinger, is a Professor of Sociology at Furman University. He has two nieces who are professional tennis players, Teri and Tami Whitlinger, and he is the son of former professional basketball player Warren Whitlinger.5

Honors and awards

  • 1997 ITA National Associate Coach of the Year2
  • Fox River Valley Tennis Hall of Fame Class of 19982
  • ITA Collegiate Hall of Fame Class of 19992
  • 2006 Pac-10 Coach of the Year6
  • USTA Midwest Section Hall of Fame Class of 20106
  • Neenah High School Hall of Fame Class of 20157
  • Stanford Athletic Hall of Fame 1978 2
References

References

External links