Keeping an Open mind

By Christopher IsidroSummer Bruin Staff

FLUSHING MEADOWS, N.Y. “¹ No player at the National Tennis
Center could possibly be more laid-back than UCLA’s Keri
Phebus.

That may change Tuesday when she debuts in the United States
Open main draw against Aubrie Rippen. However, coming into the
tournament, Phebus bore none of the pressures the other 127
participants shouldered.

"It will be fun, no worries," Phebus said. "I’m just going to go
in there and give it my best shot."

Then again, Phebus doesn’t have to fret about pulling down the
big prize money and keeping the sponsors happy. The Bruin senior,
who earned a spot in the Open by capturing the NCAA singles crown
last May and played in several professional tournaments over the
summer, is content for the moment with just a sampling of life on
the tour.

"It’s a cutthroat business," she said. "In college tennis,
you’re with a team and you have friends. The tour is really lonely,
everyone’s out there for themselves."

On Saturday, while spectators gawked at Mary Pierce working out,
or John McEnroe in shades and cutoffs shagging balls in Stadium
Court, fans also witnessed a group of unknowns clawing and
scratching to qualify for the draw on the outer courts.

In her four weeks on the road, Phebus experienced the grind of
the tour. She played in the qualifying rounds of the Acura Classic
in Manhattan Beach, where she had originally been promised a wild
card into the main draw before organizers reneged. Her travels also
took her to La Costa and North Carolina.

"I just have to keep perspective out there, keep it fun and have
a good support system," Phebus said. "They’re not too fond of
rookies on the tour."

Although it’s been a rough initiation, Phebus enjoyed a degree
of success in her three tournaments. She defeated one player in the
top 100 and acquitted herself well in her losses, forcing a couple
tiebreakers along the way. It is, however, a long way from the
dominance she enjoyed in the college ranks last season.

"In collegiate tournaments, it doesn’t really get tough until
the later rounds," Phebus said. "In the pros, you can¹t have
any mental lapses, because they capitalize on that. In college, you
can get away with a few loose points."

There will be no loose points for Phebus when she plays in the
biggest tournament of her career. She hopes to pick up a few
valuable lessons from the world’s best players at the Open.

"I have a feel for the lifestyle and where I need to improve,"
she said. "This is something I might want to do, and to survive you
just can’t be intimidated out here. You need to be prepared to play
with the best."

If Phebus gets by Rippen, a wild card entry not ranked in the
top 100, the UCLA senior will have a tough match against likely
opponent Amy Frazier, 22nd in the world. Sixth-seeded Pierce lurks
in the third round.

Phebus also teams up with fellow Bruin Susie Starrett in the
women’s doubles draw. The tandem brought UCLA its fourth NCAA
doubles title in May.

Bruin sophomore Justin Gimelstob rounds out this year’s UCLA
contingent at the U.S. Open. The 18-year-old New Jersey native
secured his spot by claiming the United States Tennis Association
National Boys’ 18- and-under Championships earlier this month.

Gimelstob is no stranger to the U.S. Open and Grand Slam play,
participating in the boys’ draw and qualifying round action in the
previous two years and also playing in the 18-and-unders at this
year’s three other Grand Slam events.

Should Gimelstob survive his first round match against David
Prinosil, he will likely face 12th-seeded Richard Krajicek of the
Netherlands.

Keeping an Open mind