[1] Gibson's mother Lottie was the sister of tennis player Jack Crawford.

He is the brother of Joan Gibson and cousin of Allan Kendall, who were both tour players.

As a junior in 1954 he registered wins over Neale Fraser, Roy Emerson and Geoff Brown.

[2] In 1957 he came from two sets down to upset the top seeded Lew Hoad in the third round of the 1957 French Championships.

[3] He caused another upset at the 1959 Australian Championships by beating the eighth seed Butch Buchholz.