Introduction
Glenn Michibata (born 13 June 1962) is a former professional tennis player and former head coach of the Princeton University Tigers tennis team.
Playing career
Collegiate career
Before turning pro, Michibata was an All-American player at Pepperdine University in the 1981, 1982 and 1983 seasons.
Professional career – singles
An ATP touring professional from 1983 to 1993, Michibata earned a career-high singles ranking of World No. 48 in April 1986.His best results were the semifinals at the 1985 outdoor Tokyo, 1989 Wellington, and 1989 Schenectady Grand Prix events.
Michibata reached the second round in all four Grand Slam tournaments, but never further. His first Grand Slam appearance was at the 1983 US Open, when he lost in the second round to Pat Cash. His last was also at the US Open in 1991, when he lost in the first round to Nuno Marques. Michibata only played all four Grand Slams in the same year in 1989, reaching the second round at the French Open and US Open and losing in the first round at the Australian Openand Wimbledon.
Professional career – doubles
Michibata had more success as a doubles player. Much of this success came with fellow Canadian Grant Connell, including four titles. In 1990, Michibata and Connell were finalists at the Australian Open. Michibata's highest doubles ranking was #5 on 8 July 1991 after he and Connell reached the semifinals of both the French Open and Wimbledon. Coincidentally, they lost both of these semifinals to John Fitzgerald and Anders Järryd.
Davis Cup and Olympics
Michibata competed for 14 Canadian Davis Cup teams between 1982 and 1992. He went 4 and 10 in singles and 7 and 8 in doubles. The Connell-Michibata pair won a crucial match in a 1990 tieagainst the Dutchmen Paul Haarhuis and Mark Koevermans 7–6, 7–6, 6–2, as Canada defeated the Netherlands 3–2 in the qualifying round for the 1991 World Group. Unfortunately the Canadian team as well as the Connell-Michibata pairing lost in the first round of the World Group in 1991 as well as the following year, two of the only three times Canada has competed in the World Group since its inception in 1981.
Michibata also competed in Men's Doubles with Grant Connell at the 1988 Olympics in Seoul. They were seeded 6th, but lost in the first round to Moreten Christensen and Michael Tauson of Denmark.
Coaching career
After retiring as a player, Michibata became the director of tennis at Whistler Racquet and Golf Resort in Whistler, British Columbia. Also, Michibata coached the doubles team of fellow Canadian Daniel Nestor and Mark Knowles for two years (1995–1997).
In 1997, Michibata became an assistant tennis coach at the University of Southern California, staying there until 2000, when he moved to Princeton University to become the head coach of its tennis program. He remained at Princeton for 12 years during which time he had a 145–121 record, including winning records in seven Ivy League seasons, and three Ivy League Players of the Year.
Michibata has remained in the Princeton area, and he is currently director of elite and tournament training for the Princeton Tennis Program, where he coaches many nationally ranked players.
Personal life
Michibata is married and has a son and a daughter. In 1999, he was inducted into both the Canadian Tennis Hall of Fame in 1999. and the Etobicoke Sports Hall of Fame. Michibata and Grant Connell were inducted into the Rogers Cup Hall of Fame in 2010.
Career statistics
Singles Grand Slam performance timeline
| Tournament | 1983 | 1984 | 1985 | 1986 | 1987 | 1988 | 1989 | 1990 | 1991 | Career SR | Career Win-Loss |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Grand Slams | |||||||||||
| Australian Open | A | A | A | A | 1R | 2R | 1R | A | A | 0 / 3 | 1–3 |
| French Open | A | 1R | A | 1R | 1R | A | 2R | A | A | 0 / 4 | 1–4 |
| Wimbledon | A | 2R | A | 1R | A | 2R | 1R | A | 2R | 0 / 5 | 3–5 |
| U.S. Open | 2R | 1R | A | 1R | A | A | 2R | A | 1R | 0 / 5 | 2–5 |
| Grand Slam SR | 0 / 1 | 0 / 3 | 0 / 0 | 0 / 3 | 0 / 2 | 0 / 2 | 0 / 4 | 0 / 0 | 0 / 2 | 0 / 17 | align="center" |
| Annual Win-Loss | 1–1 | 1–3 | 0–0 | 0–3 | 0–2 | 2–2 | 2–4 | 0–0 | 1–2 | 7–17 | |
Doubles titles (4)
| Titles by Surface |
| Legend |
| Grand Slam (0–1) |
| Tennis Masters Cup (0–0) |
| ATP Masters Series (0–3) |
| ATP Championship Series (1–4) |
| ATP Tour (3–15) |
| Titles by Surface |
| Hard (4–18) |
| Clay (0–0) |
| Grass (0–2) |
| Carpet (0–3) |
| Grand Slam (0–1) |
| Tennis Masters Cup (0–0) |
| ATP Masters Series (0–3) |
| ATP Championship Series (1–4) |
| ATP Tour (3–15) |
| Hard (4–18) |
| Clay (0–0) |
| Grass (0–2) |
| Carpet (0–3) |
Doubles finals
| Result | No. | Date | Tournament | Surface | Partner | Opponents | Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Loss | 1. | 6 August 1984 | Livingston, United States | Hard | Paul Annacone | Scott Davis Ben Testerman |
4–6, 4–6 |
| Loss | 2. | 25 February 1985 | Toronto Indoor, Canada | Carpet | Glenn Layendecker | Peter Fleming Anders Järryd |
6–7, 2–6 |
| Loss | 3. | 4 January 1988 | Wellington, New Zealand | Hard | Broderick Dyke | Dan Goldie Rick Leach |
2–6, 3–6 |
| Win | 1. | 22 August 1988 | Livingston, United States | Hard | Grant Connell | Marc Flur Sammy Giammalva Jr. |
2–6, 6–4, 7–5 |
| Loss | 4. | 10 October 1988 | Brisbane, Australia | Hard (i) | Grant Connell | Eric Jelen Carl-Uwe Steeb |
4–6, 1–6 |
| Loss | 5. | 9 January 1989 | Wellington, New Zealand | Hard | Rill Baxter | Peter Doohan Laurie Warder |
6–3, 2–6, 3–6 |
| Loss | 6. | 29 January 1990 | Australian Open, Melbourne | Hard | Grant Connell | Pieter Aldrich Danie Visser |
4–6, 6–4, 1–6, 4–6 |
| Loss | 7. | 26 February 1990 | Philadelphia, United States | Carpet | Grant Connell | Rick Leach Jim Pugh |
6–3, 4–6, 2–6 |
| Win | 2. | 23 April 1990 | Seoul, South Korea | Hard | Grant Connell | Jason Stoltenberg Todd Woodbridge |
7–6, 6–4 |
| Win | 3. | 23 July 1990 | Washington, D.C., United States | Hard | Grant Connell | Jorge Lozano Todd Witsken |
6–3, 6–7, 6–2 |
| Loss | 8. | 20 August 1990 | Indianapolis, United States | Hard | Grant Connell | Scott Davis David Pate |
6–7, 6–7 |
| Loss | 9. | 14 January 1991 | Auckland, New Zealand | Hard | Grant Connell | Sergio Casal Emilio Sánchez |
6–4, 3–6, 4–6 |
| Loss | 10. | 4 March 1991 | Chicago, United States | Carpet | Grant Connell | Scott Davis David Pate |
4–6, 7–5, 6–7 |
| Loss | 11. | 8 April 1991 | Hong Kong | Hard | Robert Van't Hof | Patrick Galbraith Todd Witsken |
2–6, 4–6 |
| Win | 4. | 29 April 1991 | Singapore | Hard | Grant Connell | Stefan Kruger Christo van Rensburg |
6–4, 5–7, 7–6 |
| Loss | 12. | 17 June 1991 | London/Queen's Club, England | Grass | Grant Connell | Todd Woodbridge Mark Woodforde |
4–6, 6–7 |
| Loss | 13. | 29 July 1991 | Montreal, Canada | Hard | Grant Connell | Patrick Galbraith Todd Witsken |
4–6, 6–3, 1–6 |
| Loss | 14. | 5 August 1991 | Los Angeles, United States | Hard | Brad Pearce | Javier Frana Jim Pugh |
5–7, 6–2, 4–6 |
| Loss | 15. | 12 August 1991 | Cincinnati, United States | Hard | Grant Connell | Ken Flach Robert Seguso |
7–6, 4–6, 5–7 |
| Loss | 16. | 30 September 1991 | Brisbane, Australia | Hard | John Fitzgerald | Todd Woodbridge Mark Woodforde |
6–7, 3–6 |
| Loss | 17. | 13 January 1992 | Auckland, New Zealand | Hard | Grant Connell | Wayne Ferreira Jim Grabb |
4–6, 3–6 |
| Loss | 18. | 6 April 1992 | Singapore | Hard | Grant Connell | Todd Woodbridge Mark Woodforde |
7–6, 2–6, 4–6 |
| Loss | 19. | 24 August 1992 | Indianapolis, United States | Hard | Grant Connell | Jim Grabb Richey Reneberg |
6–7, 2–6 |
| Loss | 20. | 5 April 1993 | Osaka, Japan | Hard | David Pate | Mark Keil Christo van Rensburg |
6–7, 3–6 |
| Loss | 21. | 12 April 1993 | Tokyo Outdoor, Japan | Hard | David Pate | Ken Flach Rick Leach |
6–2, 3–6, 4–6 |
| Loss | 22. | 21 June 1993 | Manchester, England | Grass | Stefan Kruger | Ken Flach Rick Leach |
4–6, 1–6 |
| Loss | 23. | 2 August 1993 | Montreal, Canada | Hard | David Pate | Jim Courier Mark Knowles |
4–6, 6–7 |
Doubles performance timeline
| Tournament | 1984 | 1985 | 1986 | 1987 | 1988 | 1989 | 1990 | 1991 | 1992 | 1993 | 1994 | 1995 | 1996 | 1997 | Career SR | Career Win-Loss |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Grand Slams | ||||||||||||||||
| Australian Open | A | A | NH | 2R | QF | QF | F | 3R | 3R | 2R | A | A | A | A | 0 / 7 | 17–7 |
| French Open | A | A | 3R | 1R | A | 1R | 3R | SF | 2R | 3R | A | A | A | A | 0 / 7 | 11–7 |
| Wimbledon | 1R | 2R | 1R | 2R | 3R | 1R | QF | SF | 2R | 2R | A | A | A | A | 0 / 10 | 13–10 |
| U.S. Open | A | A | 1R | 2R | 1R | 1R | 3R | 2R | 3R | 1R | A | A | A | A | 0 / 8 | 6–8 |
| Grand Slam SR | 0 / 1 | 0 / 1 | 0 / 3 | 0 / 4 | 0 / 3 | 0 / 4 | 0 / 4 | 0 / 4 | 0 / 4 | 0 / 4 | 0 / 0 | 0 / 0 | 0 / 0 | 0 / 0 | 0 / 32 | N/A |
| Annual Win-Loss | 0–1 | 1–1 | 2–3 | 3–4 | 5–3 | 3–4 | 12–4 | 11–4 | 6–4 | 4–4 | 0–0 | 0–0 | 0–0 | 0–0 | N/A | 47–32 |
| ATP Masters Series | ||||||||||||||||
| Indian Wells | These Tournaments Were Not Masters Series Events Before 1990 |
2R | 2R | QF | 1R | A | A | A | A | 0 / 4 | 3–4 | |||||
| Miami | 3R | 2R | 3R | 1R | A | A | 1R | A | 0 / 5 | 2–5 | ||||||
| Monte Carlo | A | A | A | A | A | A | A | A | 0 / 0 | 0–0 | ||||||
| Rome | A | A | A | A | A | A | A | A | 0 / 0 | 0–0 | ||||||
| Hamburg | A | A | A | A | A | A | A | A | 0 / 0 | 0–0 | ||||||
| Canada | SF | F | 1R | F | A | A | 2R | A | 0 / 5 | 10–5 | ||||||
| Cincinnati | 2R | F | 2R | QF | A | A | 1R | A | 0 / 5 | 6–5 | ||||||
| Madrid (Stuttgart) | SF | 2R | SF | 1R | A | A | A | A | 0 / 4 | 5–4 | ||||||
| Paris | 2R | 2R | 2R | 1R | A | A | A | A | 0 / 4 | 1–4 | ||||||
| Masters Series SR | N/A | 0 / 6 | 0 / 6 | 0 / 6 | 0 / 6 | 0 / 0 | 0 / 0 | 0 / 3 | 0 / 0 | 0 / 27 | N/A | |||||
| Annual Win-Loss | N/A | 6–6 | 7–6 | 7–6 | 6–6 | 0–0 | 0–0 | 1–3 | 0–0 | N/A | 27–27 | |||||
| Year End Ranking | 186 | 100 | 87 | 119 | 36 | 56 | 10 | 8 | 27 | 42 | - | - | 280 | 1313 | N/A | |