Usta/Eastern News
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USTA/EASTERN NEWS GIMELSTOB SHARES HUMOROUS ASIDES IN SINGLES RESURGENCE o doubt many Eastern loyalists have followed the tennis match point in the second set, he said, “I’m not gonna lie here; I’m career of Jersey native Justin Gimelstob since he was 8 and in trouble.” Nshowed a natural instinct for the game. This past spring, we Though he lost in the doubles final a little later, Gimelstob checked the daily box scores, saw that Gimelstob was playing well went on to snatch the “Mercedes-Benz Play of the Week” for one of in Europe and sensed that he could be staging a resurgence. The bet- his many diving volleys, a result of his natural athleticism and ener- ter news, though, was in the tournament reports, which showcased getic play. his wry sense of humor From the start of the year to the beginning of August, clicking on all cylinders. Gimelstob’s singles ranking improved from No. 104 to No. 83, In May, Gimelstob putting him in eyesight of his career-best ranking of No. 63 in April emitted good vibes upset- 1999. He admits that a sense of humor helps. “I’m trying to enjoy ting reigning Olympic gold the process a little more,” said Gimelstob, who has weathered major medalist Nicolas Massu of growth spurts (which affected his movement) and several injuries Chile, 2-6, 7-6(3), 6-4, in during his career. “I wear my emotions on my sleeve, that’s who I the second round of the am, but I’ve learned some levity.” Estoril Open in Portugal to That’s a far cry from the words of the ’91 national junior reach his first tour-level champ, who said he had been nervous throughout his matches but singles quarterfinal on clay was psyched [to win], and then announced: “I’m such a perfection- since 1998 Coral Springs. ist I have a hard time dealing with mistakes.” “No one will believe it when they read in the newspaper that I beat Massu,” Gimelstob quipped. “They’ll think he broke a foot or something.” Gimelstob has had a very respectable career. He won two Grand Slam tour- z a nament mixed doubles B l e titles, the 1998 Australian a h c i Open and 1998 French M Justin Gimelstob was a singles and doubles Open, both with Venus finalist this past July at Newport. Williams. He has also hoisted a baker’s dozen of ATP doubles trophies and has won almost two dozen singles and doubles pro challengers in his 10-year pro career. But this year, at age 29, Gimelstob, who catapulted into the national junior spotlight in 1991 when he won the boys’ 14 Easter Bowl trophy and the singles and doubles titles at the USTA Boys’ 14 National Championships in Texas, figured it was time to round out his professional tennis resume and reach for the brass ring in singles at an ATP tour event. Gimelstob kicked off the North American summer tennis season in July by putting his personal stamp on the singles and doubles finals on the Newport grass at the Hall of Fame Championships. Gimelstob’s serve-and-volley game is suited to grass. In 1997, he beat reigning French champ Gustavo Kuerten in the first round at Wimbledon, and on four occasions, he has made it to the third round at the All England Club. Gimelstob followed his clay court achievement in Estoril, with a tough 7-6(5), 6-7(4), 7-6(7) loss on grass to Sweden’s Robin Soderling at Nottingham, England, in June. (Photographer Ed Goldman e-mailed me the results and noted that eventual-semifinalist Soderling saved two match points.) But Gimelstob says, flat out, that the slower court speed of the modern game does not favor players coming forward. s a Gimelstob was in his element at Newport, though, and defeat- n e K ed the No. 1 seed, Andy Murray, 6-1, 7-6(4), to reach the singles b o final. “My first!” he exclaimed to the crowd. Alas, he succumbed to B Mark Philippoussis, 6-3, 7-5, in the title match. But not before he Junior phenom Justin Gimelstob won singles and doubles titles at the 1991 offered a little wry humor. Losing 5-6 and 0-40 and staring at triple USTA Boys’ 14 National Championships. 92 September 2006 - www.tennisweek.com www.eastern.usta.com by Nancy Gill McShea SISTERS PACE EASTERN IN NATIONAL CLAY COURTS’ FINAL FOUR hristina and Lauren McHale of Englewood Cliffs, N.J., returned in doubles with a vengeance, pairing with Chelcie Abajian orchestrated an imposing sister act when they both showed of Hawthorne, N.J., to defeat Zoe De Bruycker and Lilly Kimbell, Cup in the final four of singles at the July USTA National 6-2, 6-0, in that final. Junior Clay Court Championships in Virginia Beach, Va. In the boys’ 16 clay court doubles final in Rockville, Md., Christina, unseeded in her first year of national 16s competition, Eastern’s Mieskzo Tomczyk of Glendale, N.Y., and his partner won the tournament, while Lauren, seeded fifth, was a semifinal- Marc Powers lost a tough 4-6, 6-1, 6-4 decision to the top seeds, ist and finished fourth. Brennan Boyajian and Zach Hunter. Doubles semifinalists Christina, who earlier in July defeated Germany’s Dana Sebastien Fauchet of Pittsford, N.Y., and Robert Wong of Old Oppinger, 6-1, 6-1, to win the girls’ 14 championship at the Greenwich, Conn., defeated Tyler Bowman and Jenson Turner, 6- Kampen Open International in the Netherlands, charged through 3, 6-2, to finish third. the 16s clay court draw, leaving a string of upsets in her wake. She Marcus Fugate of Fairport, N.Y., a singles runner-up in July at edged top-seeded Lauren Embree of Florida, 6-1, 2-6, 7-6(5), in the the Buffalo Bills Tennis Futures pro event in Williamsville, N.Y., round of 16; beat Eastern’s No. 14 seed Hilary Bartlett of New York was the top-seeded favorite going in to the boys’ 18 clay courts, City, 6-0, 6-1, in the quarters; and defeated No. 6 seed Kate Turvy also held in Rockville. But Fugate lost a heartbreaker in the singles of Ohio, 3-6, 6-1, 6-2, in the semis. In the final, she scored a deci- title match, succumbing, 6-4, 3-6, 6-4, to Florida’s Michael Venus. sive 3-6, 6-0, 6-1 victory over No. 10 seed Kristi Boxx of At the girls’ 18 event in Memphis, Tenn., Jacqueline Wu of Mississippi. Boxx had eliminated Christina’s sister Lauren, 6-4, 5- Holmdel, N.J., was a singles quarterfinalist and Stefanie Nunic 7, 6-2, in the semis. of New York City won the consolation championship to finish Bartlett did not settle for a quarterfinal showing in singles. She fifth overall. n a m d l o G d E Christina McHale, an international and national champion. Lauren McHale was a national semifinalist. Marcus Fugate, a pro and national junior finalist. News Bulletins Kudos Korner • Please note that The USTA Eastern Section has moved its offices to 4 • Bryan Koniecko of Jericho, N.Y., was named “Big Ten West Red Oak Lane, Suite 300, White Plains, NY 10604. The phone and fax numbers, however, will remain the same: phone — 914-698-0414; fax Freshman of the Year” at Ohio State this past season. — 914-698-2471. The latest Eastern tennis news is still available at • Former Stanford All-American Scott Lipsky of Merrick, www.eastern.usta.com. N.Y., played World TeamTennis this season for the • All Eastern tennis fans are invited to attend “A Celebration of Artistry Schenectady-based New York Buzz. Lipsky figured in two at the Open” on Sept. 7 at the Grand Hyatt Hotel in New York City. Festivities will begin at 9 a.m. in a ballroom reserved as Eastern’s hos- team victories. pitality room. The agenda will include a continental breakfast, from 9 • Eastern’s winning Talbert Cup team captain Russell to 10, words of appreciation for Eastern’s member organizations and a Heier and his wife Theresa, of Huntington, N.Y., wel- brief ceremony recognizing an individual from the world of the arts for comed their second child, James Thomas Heier, on July accomplishments and support of tennis. The arts and tennis showcase natural talent, well refined skill and drama, which make this celebration 24, weighing in at 9 1/2 lbs. a perfect fit, with the U.S. Open as the backdrop. Afterward, many will • Shaun Bernstein of Plainview, N.Y., and national 16s depart for the USTA National Tennis Center to enjoy a day of world- clay court singles champ Christina McHale of Englewood class tennis. Cliffs, N.J., have been selected to represent the United • As a special thanks to its member organizations, Eastern held a July 31 drawing to determine the winners of 50 free tickets for the Sept. 7 U.S. States in the 2006 World Junior Tennis Finals Aug. 7-12 in Open day session. At the Sept. 7 morning celebration at the Grand Prostejov, Czech Republic. The finals event features the Hyatt, the winning organizations will accept the tickets as well as free very best 14 and from all over the world. Thirty-two teams round trip transportation between the hotel and the U.S. Open site. from 27 nations have qualified for the World Junior Finals Please join us for this unique celebration.