A REAL BACK LASH INJURY THWARTS GIMELSTOB IN FIRST ROUND.Byline: Aaron Levine Staff Writer There won't be any shirt-tearing, racket-abusing or yelling on Stadium Court at the hands or from the mouth of former UCLA UCLA University of California at Los Angeles UCLA University Center for Learning Assistance (Illinois State University) UCLA University of Carrollton, TX and Lower Addison, TX player Justin Gimelstob Justin Gimelstob (b. 26 January 1977, in Livingston, New Jersey) is an American tennis player. He won the 1998 Australian Open and French Open mixed doubles titles with Venus Williams as his partner. at this year's Mercedes-Benz Cup. His ailing back didn't give him the chance. The 24-year-old Gimelstob, who lost 6-4, 7-5 to Belgium's Xavier Malisse Xavier Malisse (born July 19 1980) is a Belgian tennis player known mostly for his enormous right-handed forehand, great power and bad temper. Born in Kortrijk, Belgium, Malisse is considered the biggest Belgian tennis talent on the ATP tour. in an opening-round match Tuesday, was too busy fighting what he said was a herniated disc Noun 1. herniated disc - a painful rupture of the fibrocartilage of the disc between spinal vertebrae; occurs most often in the lumbar region ruptured intervertebral disc, slipped disc rupture - state of being torn or burst open in his back to throw the type of tantrum tan·trum n. A fit of bad temper. tantrum, n a sudden outburst or violent display of rage, frustration, and bad temper, usually occurring in a maladjusted child or immature or disturbed adult. he did last year in a semifinal loss to eventual champion Michael Chang Michael Te-Pei Chang (張德培; Pinyin: Zhāng Dépéi; born February 22 1972, in Hoboken, New Jersey, U.S.) is an American former professional tennis player. . ``I probably wouldn't have tried to play this week if it was anywhere else. But being as it was here at UCLA, I figured I'd give it the old college try,'' Gimelstob said. The 1996 NCAA NCAA abbr. National Collegiate Athletic Association doubles champion said his back is so badly injured that he will need surgery, and that he must decide whether to have the operation before or after the U.S. Open The term U.S. Open is applied to "open" United States national championships in a particular sport, in which anybody, amateur or professional, American or non-American may compete. These include:
n. 1. The winning of all the tricks during the play of one hand in bridge and other whist-derived card games. 2. Sports The winning of all the major or specified events, especially on a professional circuit. event next month, but if his mobility against Malisse was any indication, the prospect of playing in the U.S. Open is slim. ``By the end of the second set, my back just went, I couldn't do anything. I was taking 10-15 miles an hour off of my serve, and I couldn't move,'' Gimelstob said. For a guy who didn't practice last week in order to preserve his back, not much could have been expected of Gimelstob. The lack of preparation showed as Malisse broke Gimelstob's serve in the first game. He then was forced to watch some of the most hardcore Bruins fans leave the grandstand bleachers to watch Pete Sampras Peter “Pete” Sampras (born 12 August 1971), is a former World No. 1 tennis player from the United States. During his 15-year career he won a record 14 Grand Slam men's singles titles in 52 appearances. Sampras finished as No. play on stadium court as he dropped the second set. ``To be honest, I think it's a pretty good effort of him to make an effort to play here,'' Chang said. ``It's unfortunate for him, and hopefully they'll be able to get his back taken care of.'' Gimelstob's plight today is much different from last year. The fiery hometown favorite rode a wave of fan support into the semifinals of the Mercedes to turn around what had been a disappointing hard-court season. He defeated top-seeded Mark Philippoussis Mark Anthony Philippoussis (born November 7, 1976) is an Australian tennis player. He turned professional in 1994 and as of 2007 resides in Nevada, United States. His background is a combination of Greek and Italian and he is well known for his powerful physique, standing at 6 ft 5 in the second round and won the first set against Chang in the semifinals. But after yelling at a fan, ripping his shirt in disgust and being warned by the chair umpire for throwing his racket, the energetic ex-Bruin lost the second and third sets. Gimelstob's luck has continued to be anything but favorable. A torn ligament in his ankle, suffered at the end of last year, limited his capabilities at the start of this year's season. And when it looked as though he might make a charge when his ankle finally healed, he hurt his back two weeks before Wimbledon. Now he faces ending the 2001 season with a 10-13 record, having been ousted in the first round of nine events. With nowhere else to turn, Gimelstob said he will return to UCLA this fall to take classes while his back heals. When that is over, he'll do the only thing he says he can: ``to start over in 2002.'' GIMELSTOB FILE Name: Justin Gimelstob Age: 24 Turned pro: 1996 Highest end-of-year ranking: 80 Career earnings: $1,235,019 Career highlights: Led UCLA to an NCAA team final match as a freshman in the 1995-96 season, was ranked the No. 2 collegiate singles player that year and finished as part of the top collegiate doubles team. He won five doubles titles in 1999 and two in 2000. He reached the semifinals at the Mercedes-Benz Cup in 1998 and 2000. - Aaron Levine CAPTION(S): photo, box Photo: Justin Gimelstob, bothered by an ailing back, lost in straight sets Tuesday. Michael Owen Baker/Staff Photographer Box: GIMELSTOB FILE (see text) |
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