Todd Witsken, 34, Champion in Tennis Doubles (original) (raw)

Sports|Todd Witsken, 34, Champion in Tennis Doubles

https://www.nytimes.com/1998/05/27/sports/todd-witsken-34-champion-in-tennis-doubles.html

May 27, 1998

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May 27, 1998

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Todd Witsken, a doubles specialist who won more than $1.4 million on the ATP Tour and beat Jimmy Connors in the 1986 United States Open, died on Monday. He was 34.

His wife, Lisa, said that the cause was brain cancer.

Witsken died at his home in suburban Zionsville, Ind., 21 months after a malignant tumor was removed from his brain.

Witsken, a three-time all-American at the University of Southern California, never won a major singles title, but he won 11 doubles titles. He reached a career high of No. 4 in doubles (with Jorge Lozano) and No. 43 in singles.

His career highlights included the third-round victory over Connors in the 1986 Open, the Italian Open doubles title in 1988 and a runner-up finish to Andre Agassi at San Francisco in 1990.

''He didn't have the big shots, but he had a great mind,'' said P. A. Nilhagen, who began coaching Witsken as a youngster. ''He had a good understanding of how to get the most out of his own game.''

Witsken became director of the Indianapolis Tennis Center after his retirement from the pro tour in 1993. He worked every day until March, when the illness worsened and he decided to forgo further treatment.

In addition to his wife, he is survived by four children, Tyler, Conner, Tanner and Carlie; his parents, Henry Witsken Jr. and Marilyn A. Witsken; four brothers, Mark, Steve, Rick and Matt, and three sisters, Deanna Ponsler, Lisa Witsken and Gena Alexander.

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