- Jeff Salzenstein
Jeff "Salzy" Salzenstein (born
October 14 ,1973 , inPeoria, Illinois ) is an Americanleft-handed tennis player .As of June
2007 , he was ranked # 554 in singles (his highest ranking was # 100 in June 2004). His career high in doubles was # 68 in November 1997.Tennis career
In 1990 he was a quarter-finalist in the
USTA 's under-16 championships, and placed 3rd in theclay court event. At his peak, at the end of 1992, he was ranked 2nd in the boys' 18s. He attendedCherry Creek High School inGreenwood Village, Colorado .While earning his economics degree at
Stanford , Salzenstein as a junior reached theNCAA singles championships semifinals in 1995. The following year, again playing number 1 singles for Stanford, he was namedAll-American for the second straight year. [http://72.14.209.104/search?q=cache:njNb-P1Ln1wJ:gostanford.cstv.com/sports/m-tennis/archive/stan-m-tennis-allams.html+%22Jeff+Salzenstein%22+tennis&hl=en&ct=clnk&cd=18&gl=us]In 1996 Salzenstein won his first USTA event, capturing the
Daytona Beach doubles event, and his second doubles title at Binghamton with partnerJustin Gimelstob .At the 1997 US Open, he beat
Mikael Tillström 6–4, 1–6, 7–6 (5), 7–5 in the first round. His best grand slam performance of the year was in the Roland Garros doubles event where Salzenstein and partnerPetr Korda made the round of 16.He was forced to sit out most of 1998 and all of 1999 with back and shoulder injuries. He had ankle surgery in 1998, and knee surgery in 1999. He concentrated on finishing his studies, and earned a degree in economics from Stanford.
In 2000 won his first two challenger singles titles. In May, Salzenstein won the Tallahassee challenger, beating
Kevin Kim 6–3, 6–2 in the final. In November he beat FrenchmanAntony Dupuis 7–6(4), 6–4 to capture theUrbana, Illinois challenger.In 2001 he won another challenger title, the $50,000 Seascape Challenger, at
Aptos, California , dropping only one set in the entire tournament.He again won at Aptos in 2003.
During April 2004 he won his fifth challenger title in
León, Mexico . He qualified for the Australian Open, Roland Garros, and Wimbledon but was eliminated in the first round of each.His best ATP circuit showing was in the International Series tournament at Delray Beach in September. Salzenstein upset Canadian born BritonGreg Rusedski (# 67 in the world) 6–4, 7–6(7) in the quarterfinals. In November 2004 he upset world # 24Jiří Novák ) 6–3, 7–6(3), in Luxembourg.Links
* [http://www.atptennis.com/3/en/players/playerprofiles/?playernumber=S564 ATP profile]
* [http://jeffsalzenstein.com/ JeffSalzenstein.com]
* [http://www.jewsinsports.org/profile.asp?sport=tennis&ID=115 Jews in Sports bio]
* [http://www.paloaltoonline.com/weekly/morgue/2001/2001_07_25.menstennis.html "Salzenstein enjoying his current elevator ride in pro tennis," 7/25/01]
* [http://www.usta.com/protennis/fullstory.sps?iNewsid=39810 "Jeff Salzenstein: Circuit Player of the Week," 7/22/03]
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