BY DAVE SCHUTTE
Enquirer contributor
Justin Gimelstob, left, plays doubles with Todd Martin.
(Michael Snyder photo)
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MASON -- When Justin Gimelstob asked Todd Martin to play doubles in the Greater American Insurance ATP Championship, the 21-year-old American had one thing in mind.
"Obviously, my goal is to earn a spot on the U.S. Davis team one way or the other," Gimelstob said Friday after the duo lost to the No. 5-seeded doubles team of Yevgeny Kafelnikov and Daniel Vacek.
"That's been my goal my entire life. Todd is kind of a given to play on the team, but I have to earn my way. Tonight, we got our butts kicked, but we played well."
U.S. Davis Cup Team captain Tom Gullikson, who participated in the Seniors Championship in Cincinnati last week, is well aware of Gimelstob's desire to play and watched the duo during two early round matches.
A possible opening came about after Richey Reneberg underwent arthroscopic knee surgery on July 23. Reneberg is expected back in action at the U.S. Open in September and could regain a spot on the team.
Martin has developed a high respect for Gimelstob, a practicing partner for the Davis Cup team the past year.
"I'd certainly recommend Justin for the team," Martin said. "Not so much because of playing with him this week, but from practicing and playing mixed doubles against him."
Martin pointed out that Gimelstob complements his weakness. "I have trouble helping my partner serve out," Martin said. "Justin fits into my weakness because he serves and volleys very well. He's an imposing figure on the other side of the net."
Gimelstob understands why many of the older players don't want to play Davis Cup tennis but doesn't agree with their reasoning. "Many older players feel they've done their service," Gimelstob said. "They don't want to play as much because their bodies can't take it. When I'm 30, I'll cut back other tournaments and still play for the Davis Cup team."
Gullikson is expected to pick the Davis Cup team for the semifinals against Italy during or immediately after the U.S. Open.
Since this duo won't play together again until after the U.S Open, Gimelstob's chances of making the team could be in the hands of Martin and his recommendation to Gullikson. There have been as many upsets in doubles as there have been in singles this week. Kafelnikov and Vacek, No. 5 seeds, are the only seeded team left. The biggest upset of the doubles tournament was pulled off Friday by Oliver Delaitre and Fabrice Santoro. This unseeded duo ousted No. 1 seed and defending champions Todd Woodbridge and Mark Woodforde, 6-7, 6-1, 7-5. They meet Kafelnikov and Vacek in a semifinal match today.
Two unseeded teams, David Roditi-Michael Tebbutt and Daniel Nestor-Mark Knowles, meet in the other semifinals with the winners advancing to Sunday's championship match.
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