CHANG ON COMEBACK TRAIL HE'S IN FIRST FINAL SINCE '98.Byline: Steve Dilbeck Staff Writer t was patience and maturity over power and emotion, and perhaps more important for the shrinking Mercedes-Benz Cup, a good name for its marquee. 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. might have almost fallen off the tennis map last year, but he was very much alive Saturday afternoon when he overcame Justin Gimelstob's quick start by sweeping the last 11 games and advancing into today's final. Chang, 28, will try to overcome another power player in Jan-Michael Gambill Jan-Michael Charles Gambill (born June 3, 1977 in Spokane, Washington, U.S.) is an American tennis player, who made his professional debut in 1996. He's best known for his unusual double-handed forehand. to capture his first tournament title in 21 months. Chang's career comeback appeared in trouble Saturday when he lost the first set 6-3, then quickly fell behind 1-3 in the second. The intense Gimelstob was forcing the pace and appeared ready to take control. But whether it was a right-knee bruise suffered diving for the ball before winning the set's fourth game, the sweltering swel·ter·ing adj. 1. Oppressively hot and humid; sultry. 2. Suffering from oppressive heat. swel afternoon heat or the perseverance of Chang, Gimelstob was never heard from again. Chang won the semifinal 3-6, 6-3, 6-0, leaving the Mercedes-Benz Cup with the closest thing it has left to a headliner head·lin·er n. A performer who receives prominent billing; a star. Noun 1. headliner - a performer who receives prominent billing star going into today's 2 p.m. final. With nearly all of tennis' big names failing to show, bailing because of injury, being defaulted or upset, the Mercedes-Benz desperately needed someone of note in the final. Not that Chang has enjoyed top billing in a while. The Orange County product failed to make a final for the first time in 11 years in 1999. The former French Open champion saw his ATP ATP: see adenosine triphosphate. ATP in full adenosine triphosphate Organic compound, substrate in many enzyme-catalyzed reactions (see catalysis) in the cells of animals, plants, and microorganisms. ranking fall as low as No. 76. This year he has slowly been trying to rebuild his career. The Mercedes- Benz marked the fourth semifinal he's reached this season. He has pushed his ranking to No. 34, a number that will lower after surviving Gimelstob's fast start Saturday. ``I definitely tried to hang in there,'' Chang said. ``That was pretty much what I was trying to do. ``It's been a long time since I was back in a final. I feel very blessed to have this opportunity.'' The tempermental Gimelstob was feeling something much different but was still feeling plenty. At different times as the match started to slip away, he yelled at someone to turn off a cell phone, threw his racket and ripped his shirt off. Later, when the match was over, he punched a locker and had to have his right hand examined at UCLA Medical Center UCLA Medical Center is a hospital located on the campus of the University of California, Los Angeles in Los Angeles, California. It is rated as one of the top three hospitals in the United States and is the top hospital on the West Coast according to US News & World Report. . He returned later to complete his doubles semifinal with Rick Leach This article is about the tennis player. For other people named Rick Leach, see Rick Leach (baseball player). Rick Leach (b. December 28 1964, in Arcadia, California) is a professional tennis player from the United States. but dropped it in straight sets. All and all, not the day the 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 star had in mind. ``I think I just got a little flustered flus·ter tr. & intr.v. flus·tered, flus·ter·ing, flus·ters To make or become nervous or upset. n. A state of agitation, confusion, or excitement. ,'' Gimelstob said. ``Experience was a tell-tale sign. ``He didn't make any errors. He stayed the course and I didn't. I lost sight of what I was trying to do. . . . I got very scattered and made a lot of errors and he didn't. I lost the match mentally and emotionally, not physically.'' Flustered has seldom looked like this: During one stretch, Chang won 35 of 40 points. Gimelstob's emotional play had served him well when he served up the week's biggest upset, knocking off the highest-seeded player, 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. The emotion in the second semifinal belonged to Frenchman Arnaud Clement, who showed plenty of touch in winning the opening set 6-3. But Gambill came storming back to sweep the second set 6-0, and finally broke through a tight final set when he broke service in the eighth game to advance 3-6, 6-0, 6-4. Gambill had 11 aces and took 30-of-34 points on his first serve. ``I couldn't win letting him dictate all the points,'' Gambill said. ``I started taking it to him better and it pretty much turned it around.'' Chang and Gambill have split their four previous meetings, Gambill having won the last two. ``They're tough matches,'' Gambill said. ``The first time I played him was in one of my first tournaments and I was just in awe of being on the same court with Michael Chang. ``We need our great players playing great tennis. It's just great to meet another American in the finals.'' MERCEDES BENZ Mercedes Benz expensive automobile and status symbol. [Trademarks: Crowley Trade, 368] See : Luxury CUP Final at UCLA's L.A. Tennnis Center Michael Chang vs. Jan-Michael Gambill 2 p.m., Fox Sports Net CAPTION(S): 4 photos, box Photo: (1 -- color) Michael Chang reached an ATP final for the first time in two seasons by beating UCLA's 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. in Saturday's Mercedes-Benz Cup semifinal. (2 -- color) Justin Gimelstob was all over the court Saturday, but that couldn't prevent his three-set loss. (3) After losing the second set, a frustrated Justin Gimelstob rips off his shirt on his way to a changeover. (4) As was his custom when he was one of the world's top players, Michael Chang rallied from a deficit to win Saturday. Gus Ruelas/Staff Photographer Box: Mercedes Benz Cup (see text) |
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