Infiniti Open is Edberg¹s last hurrah
By Daily Bruin Staff
July 28, 1996 9:00 p.m.
Sunday, July 28, 1996
LATC marks the start, end of great career for 30-year-old
SwedeBy Christopher Isidro
Summer Bruin Senior Staff
Stefan Edberg may be making his final visit to Los Angeles this
week, but don’t expect him to make his entrance at the Los Angeles
Tennis Center with a walking stick.
The 30-year-old Swede, in the midst of his farewell tour,
highlights a strong field at the Infiniti Open beginning today at
UCLA.
Third-ranked Michael Chang, Wimbledon-champion Richard Krajicek
and defending-titlist Michael Stich also top this week’s draw.
But the focus will be on Edberg, considered by many as one of
the great ambassadors of the sport. His decision to retire at the
end of this year came after he dropped out of the top 10 and failed
to reach the quarterfinals of a Grand Slam last year for the first
time since 1983.
"The way things have been going the last two years, the results
really haven’t been there," Edberg said. "My motivation has slipped
a little bit.
"If I want to continue playing tennis, I want to feel that I can
be in the top 10, I want to feel I can win another Grand Slam. And
right now, I feel that is very difficult."
Edberg has a long history in Los Angeles, beginning at the Los
Angeles Olympics in 1984 when he won the gold medal for Sweden in
tennis. He is also a past champion at the Infiniti Open, winning
the singles title in 1990 and the doubles with Anders Jarryd in
1986.
"Playing at the 1984 Olympics at the UCLA campus will always be
in my memories because it was a fantastic experience for me,"
Edberg said. "I do think that the (LATC) is a very special stadium
and I’ve enjoyed playing there over the years."
Entering this week’s tournament, Edberg is ranked No. 28 in the
world with a record of 27-16 this year, reaching one final and one
semifinal this season.
"Stefan has always been a great champion," Chang said. "We have
had some very tough matches together."
None tougher than their third-round match at the French Open
earlier this season. Edberg, who never won on the red clay of
Roland Garros, fed off of the enthusiastic crowd to knock off the
1989 champion.
As for Chang, this week could be a golden opportunity to avenge
that loss. He moved to a career-high No. 3 world ranking after
winning the Legg Mason Tennis Classic in Washington.
Last week’s victory only confirmed Chang’s status as one of the
world’s best on the hardcourts. His career record of 262-83 on that
surface is fifth-best among all current players.
"Hardcourt is the most comfortable surface for me," Chang said.
"The bounce is always straight and it tends to be fast. Each time I
step out on hardcourt, things get better and better."
Chang is not the only player riding a wave of momentum this
week. Eighth-ranked Krajicek, seeded second at the Infiniti Open,
makes his first appearance since his breakthrough victory at
Wimbledon.
The two-time Infiniti Open champion has lurked in the top 20 the
previous four years but found little success in Grand Slam play,
especially at Wimbledon where Krajicek was 7-5 before this
year.
But after battling through injuries which have plagued him most
of his career, Krajicek defeated Stich and Pete Sampras at
Wimbledon en route to his first Grand Slam title. And suddenly, the
hard-serving Dutchman is no secret in the draw.
"It’s a different feeling to be expected to do well," Krajicek
said. "But it feels good being the Wimbledon champion and it’s a
good burden to have."
Stich, the defending Infiniti Open champion, is another player
expected to do well this week. After a foot injury sidelined him
earlier in the season, Stich came back strong in the clay court
season, capped by a runner-up finish at the French Open.
He also reached the round of 16 at Wimbledon before succumbing
to the eventual-champion Krajicek.
Also playing this week are 1996 Olympian and No. 3 seed Thomas
Enqvist and former Bruin Justin Gimelstob, last year’s national
18’s singles champion.
* * *
In addition to the 32 singles players taking part in the
Infiniti Open, 16 doubles teams will also take to the courts this
week at the Los Angeles Tennis Center.
The doubles competition will feature the antics of brothers Luke
and Murphy Jensen. Camarillo, Calif.’s Bob and Mike Brian, the
national 18’s champions and NCAA champions Gimelstob and Srdjan
Muskatirovic will also participate in the doubles.
