CALABASAS CHALLENGER: FRENCHMAN WINS FINAL.Byline: Ramona Shelburne Ramona Shelburne is an American sports journalist currently writing for the Los Angeles Daily News. Shelburne was born and raised in Los Angeles, California. She attended El Camino Real High School in Woodland Hills, California where she was a class valedictorian. Staff Writer CALABASAS - Fans who had read up on Jerome Golmard's injury-plagued 2002 season cringed when the Frenchman called for a trainer in the second set of the Calabasas Men's $50,000 Pro Challenger championship match at the Calabasas Swim and Tennis Center on Sunday. Golmard played in only five tournaments in 2002 because of a nagging left-elbow injury, and had to retire from his first two tournaments of 2003. This time, though, it was only a blister on his left foot, and after a quick five-minute medical timeout, Golmard went on to defeat Lars Burgsmuller of Germany 6-3, 7-5 to win his first title since 2000. ``It was like a dream for me to win this,'' Golmard said. ``This is my first time finishing a tournament since September of last year.'' At his current rank of 163, Golmard was an unlikely winner at the 32-man tournament, which featured rising American stars 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. , Cecil Mamiit Cecil Mamiit (born June 27, 1976 in Los Angeles, California) is a tennis player from the United States who now represents the Philippines. He began his professional career in 1996. and Robert Kendrick Robert Kendrick (born November 15, 1979 in Fresno, California) is an American tennis player. He turned professional in 1999. Early life Robert Kendrick was born in Fresno on November 15, 1979 to Tom and Doris Kendrick and began playing tennis at the age of 5. . Gimelstob, the top-seeded player, lost in the first round to qualifier Glenn Weiner, but recovered to win the doubles title with partner Scott Humphries. The pair defeated Americans Kevin Kim Kevin Kim (born July 26, 1978) is an American tennis player of Korean descent. He was accepted to UCLA as a tennis player and dropped out of UCLA to pursue a career in tennis. He is currently 110th in the ATP rankings. and Jim Thomas Jim Thomas may refer to:
Though Burgsmuller was seeded second in the tournament, and ranked 108th, Golmard's victory should not come as a shock. The left-handed Golmard has been ranked as high as No. 22 in the world and advanced to the third round of the Australian Open
``He was obviously the better player today,'' Burgsmuller said. ``I wasn't at my best today. I tried to fight and stay in the match, but I didn't feel very well with my serve and I had to put too many second serves in. It's tough to win when you've got to do that. '' Michael Chang defeated Mamiit at last year's tournament. |
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