28^th July 2000

LOS ANGELES (Reuters)(DS) - Inspired by the partisan crowd, hometown favourite
Justin Gimelstob found a way to overcome the booming serve and punishing ground
game of second-seeded Australian Mark Philippoussis on Thursday night.
Gimelstob hammered in 15 aces en route to a dramatic 3-6 7-6 (7-5) 7-6 (7-3) second-
round victory at the Los Angeles Open.
"I thought I played very well midway through the second set on," said Gimelstob,
whose ace total was two more than the powerful Australian's in the two hour, 15 minute
comeback before a crowd that cheered the former UCLA star.
"The crowd hung in there with me and helped me pull through. It was a good calibre
of tennis. I'm happy to get through obviously."
After dropping the opening set, Gimelstob trailed 2-4 in the second-set tiebreaker
before coming alive, winning five of the next six points to level the match.
"I played some good points in the breaker," said Gimelstob, who had also beaten
Andre Agassi and Patrick Rafter on the familiar UCLA centre court in previous years.
"That helped give me some momentum."
Without a service break, another tiebreaker was forced in the third set and Gimelstob
took control. He raced to a 4-1 after pushing a forehand volley into an open court. At 6-
2, Philippoussis saved one match point before Gimelstob's overhead completed the
comeback.
"It's very simple, it was lack of match play on my part that let him in the match,"
Philippoussis said. "I went for shots and tried to things I normally wouldn't do. There
was no intensity out there. And there is no excuse for that."
Gimelstob's victory completed the quarterfinal bracket. He will face fellow American
Paul Goldstein, who overcame a twisted ankle early in the first set to defeat Alex O'Brien
6-4 6-2.