Justin Gimelstob

Justin Jeremy Gimelstob (born January 26, 1977 ) is a retired American tennis player.

In 1991, he was ranked No. 1 in the USTA Boys' 14 age group, and he was No. 1 ranked again in the USTA Boys' 16 age group, winning the USTA championship, in 1993.

He was also ranked No. 1 at age 18, and in 1995 he won the USTA National Boys' 18 Championships.

Gimelstob grew up in the New Vernon section of Harding Township, New Jersey.

He graduated from Newark Academy in Livingston, New Jersey, in 1995.

As a sophomore at Newark Academy, Gimelstob led the school's tennis team to a 26–0 record and won the state Tournament of Champions.

In January 1995, Gimelstob enrolled at UCLA after first recruiting him as a 12 year old, and eliciting legendary UCLA basketabll coach John Wooden during his recruitment process, Gimelstob accepted a scholarship to attend UCLA after graduating high school a year early.

There, he completed his first semester with a 4.0 GPA and throughout his two years maintained the highest GPA of any student athlete.

He was an Academic All American is his freshman year.

In Gimelstob's sophmore season he was ranked #1 in singles and doubles, while leading UCLA to the #1 team ranking throughout the season until losing a heartbreaking final to Stanford after defeating them three times during the season.

In September 1995, when he defeated David Prinosil in the first round of the U.S. Open it was stated in Sports Illustrated.

that Gimelstob was ranked # 1,154 at the time, and Prinosil #85.

Gimelstob went on to partner Srdan Muskatirovic to win the 1996 NCAA Doubles Championship.

Gimelstob turned pro in 1996.

At Wimbledon in June 1997 he upset world # 12 Gustavo Kuerten, 6–3, 6–4, 4–6, 1–6, 6–4.

In July 1997, he defeated world # 32 Andre Agassi at the ATP event in Los Angeles, 7–5, 6–2.

Later that month, he defeated world # 16 Petr Korda 6–4, 6–4 in Montreal.

Gimelstob then reached the 3rd round at the 1997 US Open.

Gimelstob subsequently established himself chiefly as a doubles specialist, winning 12 titles.

In 11 appearances at the US Open, he partnered 11 different players.

As a pro, he made the final of the Newport Tournament in singles and has 15 doubles championships to his name, including the 1998 Australian Open and 1998 French Open mixed doubles titles with Venus Williams.

He was twice a member of the U.S. Davis Cup team.

In singles matches, he defeated Andre Agassi, Petr Korda, Àlex Corretja, Pat Rafter, and Gustavo Kuerten.

His career singles record was 107–172.

He won the 1998 Australian Open and French Open mixed doubles titles, with Venus Williams as his partner.

In June 1998 at Wimbledon he beat world No. 9 Àlex Corretja in straight sets.

In July he upset world No. 5 Pat Rafter 6–4, 6–3 in Los Angeles.

In March he beat world # 22 Thomas Muster, 6–4, 7–5 in Scottsdale, and in August he upset world # 7 Todd Martin, 6–4, 6–4 in Cincinnati.

His highest career singles ranking was No. 63 in 1999, and his highest career doubles ranking was No. 18 in 2000.

Gimelstob most recently coached American John Isner.

Gimelstob had one of the most successful junior tennis careers in American junior tennis history.

He started playing tennis when he was eight, and was the top-ranked boy in his age group from ages 12 through 18.

In June 2000 he beat world No.27 Fabrice Santoro in London, 4–6, 6–4, 6–0.

In July he upset world # 19 Mark Philippoussis 3–6, 7–6 (7–5), 7–6 (7–3).

In 2001, he and partner Scott Humphries got to the semifinals of the Australian Open.

In 2005, he was entered into the high school's hall of fame, the Newark (N.J.) Academy Hall of Fame.

The high school named its tennis facility after him and his brothers.

Gimelstob, as a resident of Essex Fells, New Jersey, competed in junior tennis.

Gimelstob has been a resident of Morristown, New Jersey, and as of 2009 lived in Santa Monica, California.

He was the top-ranked boy in his age group at the ages of 12, 14, 16, and 18.