Tuesday, May 28, 1996
Gimelstob, Muskatirovic team defeat TCU pair to win
championshipBy Mark Shapiro
Daily Bruin Staff
When the NCAA team championships ended in disappointment for the
UCLA men’s tennis team, most of the squad returned home from
Georgia, but with the singles and doubles championships yet to be
played, it was up to three Bruins to try and save some lost
pride.
Save it they did, somewhat, as sophomore Justin Gimelstob and
senior Srdjan Muskatirovic teamed up and took home the doubles
championship with a 6-7, 6-4, 6-4 victory over Ashley Fisher and
Jason Weir-Smith of Texas Christian. The victory capped a
successful run through the draw and made the pair the only top seed
to win a championship in Athens, Ga. this year.
After coming up with a pair of workmanlike victories in the
first two rounds, Gimelstob and Muskatirovic took on hometown
favorites Steven Baldes and Jaime Laschinger of Georgia in the
semifinals.
With the strength of the Bulldog faithful behind them, the pair
made a spirited run at the upset, but the Bruin duo held them off
in a thrilling 6-4, 5-7, 7-5 victory to earn a berth in the
finals.
The trio of Bruins entered in the singles draw were unable to
match the success found in the doubles competition. Eric Taino and
Gimelstob both fell in the first round while Muskatirovic was able
to shake off the ill effects of the team’s loss and advance to the
third round.
After dispatching Fresno State’s Frederick Giers in the second
round, Muskatirovic found himself matched up against fourth-seeded
Cecil Mamiit of USC. Here Muskatirovic’s tournament ended as he
fell to the eventual champion, 6-3, 6-3.
This tournament marked the end of the road for the three Bruins,
as well as one more not entered in the individual competition.
Muskatirovic and senior Heath Montgomery will both graduate and try
their hand on the professional tour, while Taino has long discussed
foregoing his senior season to turn pro and is expected to
officially announce that decision.
The most interesting case is that of Gimelstob, who, after the
loss to Stanford, discussed the possibility of returning to
Westwood for one more season and one more shot at the title before
joining the professional circuit.
All of that was laid to rest this weekend when he stated that he
will forgo his final two years of collegiate eligibility to play on
the pro tour.
SCOTT O/Daily Bruin
The doubles team of Srdjan Muskatirovic (front) and Justin
Gimelstob were the only Bruins to come home from Georgia with a
national title.