Jeff Salzenstein

Jeff "Salzy" Salzenstein (born October 14, 1973 in Peoria, Illinois) is an American former tour professional left-handed tennis player.

Salzenstein's highest ranking was World No. 91 in June 2004. His career high in doubles was #58 in November 1997.

Tennis career

High School Career

In 1990, Salzenstein was a quarterfinalist 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 tennis powerhouse Cherry Creek High School in Greenwood Village, Colorado.

College career

After a spectacular prep career, Salzenstein earned an athletic scholarship to Stanford University. As a junior, Salzenstein reached the NCAA singles championships semifinals in 1995. The following year, again playing No. 1 singles for Stanford, he was named an All-American for the second straight year.

Professional career

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, Jeff 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.

Jeff is currently the founder of JS Performance Tennis School in Denver, Colorado and is a certified nutritional therapist.

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