(April 9th, 2013) -- There is another name to add to the list of ATP pros over 30 finding success after potential career-ending injuries.
American
Robby Ginepri, who got as high as No. 15 in the world and made the semis of the U.S. Open back in 2005, appears to be on the comeback trail after a freak biking accident back in 2011 sidelined him for almost a year. Now fully healthy, Ginepri is finding success again as he upset last year's semifinalist
Michael Russell in their opening round match at the U.S. Clay Court Championships in Houston.
Ginepri, who came through qualifying, secured an early break over Russell in the first set and never relinquished control of the match. Ginepri went on to close out the 6-2, 6-2 win in just under 90 minutes.
Now ranked No. 283, the 30 year-old Georgia native says he is eager to climb back into the upper tier of the tour.
"It's a step in the right direction. Every match, every win is definitely a confidence booster, said Ginepri after the win. "I still have a lot of work to do. Ranking is not where it needs to be but I think if I keep playing like this I will be up there in no time. But I can't really worry about that and just have to focus on the task at hand which is the next match in a couple of days.
Ginepri has won three career ATP titles - two on hard court and one on grass. But he has also found success on clay as well, most notably reaching the round of 16 at Roland Garros back in 2008 and again in 2010 where he beat
Juan Carlos Ferrero along the way. But his past results haven't granted him an easy path back into the big leagues.
Because of his low ranking, Ginepri has been grinding it out on the Challengers and Futures circuit of late - a path that both
James Blake and
Tommy Haas, each over 30, also recently took. Now working with a new coach in Jay Bosworth, Ginepri recently told the
Houston Chronicle that he enjoys competing more now, even if playing in Challengers can be humbling at times for the 12-year veteran who has tasted success in the Majors.
Texas seems to be a good place for Ginepri. He reached the finals of the recent Dallas Challenger a few months ago and now can look forward to a possible meeting in the second round with yet another veteran who is on the "30 But Not Done Yet List" --
Lleyton Hewitt.
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(Photo Credit: Ted LePak/Tennis Now) |