Jeff Salzenstein

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Jeff "Salzy" Salzenstein (born October 14, 1973, in Peoria, Illinois) is an American left-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.

[edit] Tennis career

In 1990 he was a quarter-finalist in the USTA's under-16 championships, and placed 3rd in the clay court event. At his peak, at the end of 1992, he was ranked 2nd in the boys' 18s. He attended Cherry Creek High School in Greenwood Village, Colorado.

While earning his economics degree at Stanford, Salzenstein as a junior reached the NCAA singles championships semifinals in 1995. The following year, again playing number 1 singles for Stanford, he was named All-American for the second straight year.[1]

In 1996 Salzenstein won his first USTA event, capturing the Daytona Beach doubles event, and his second doubles title at Binghamton with partner Justin 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 partner Petr 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 Frenchman Antony Dupuis 7–6(4), 6–4 to capture the Urbana, 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 Briton Greg Rusedski (# 67 in the world) 6–4, 7–6(7) in the quarterfinals. In November 2004 he upset world # 24 Jiří Novák) 6–3, 7–6(3), in Luxembourg.

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