Goldstein Gets Back Into Swing of Things

Either way, win or lose, Paul Goldstein would come away with good news, and how often can you say that in sports?

Goldstein made the semifinals on July 9 of a grass-court tournament at Newport, R.I. But looming large over the proceedings was the calendar and geography.

“My one-year anniversary was July 10,” he said. “I came off and said it was a no-lose situation. If I win, I’m in my first final ever, and if I lose, I get to spend my one-year anniversary with my wife [in San Francisco].”

That’s the way it’s been going for Goldstein in 2005. Bad news isn’t necessarily all bad. He lost to Vince Spadea in straight sets, dropping the first in a tiebreaker and was able to get home to San Francisco.

“It probably saved me from being in the doghouse,” Goldstein said.

Goldstein -- who turns 29 next week -- celebrated his wedding anniversary, returned to the tour, made the quarterfinals last week at Indianapolis and arrived in Los Angeles ranked 70th in the world, one spot away from his career high of 69, which he reached in 2000. He started this year ranked above 200.

If Monday was any indication, he’ll probably hit a career high next week, having made good use of his wild card into the Mercedes-Benz Cup.

Goldstein defeated 2004 semifinalist Cyril Saulnier of France, 6-4, 6-4, in one hour 10 minutes in the first round at UCLA’s Los Angeles Tennis Center.

It’s a far cry from 2004, when he contemplated retirement in the summer.

From January until late August, he did not win consecutive matches while spending most of the year on the challenger circuit.

“Not in challengers, not in qualifying, not in futures, not in tour events, nothing,” he said. “I went into the U.S. Open, really almost one foot out the door. I was considering some alternatives. I had a really good U.S. Open, and it got me a little bit motivated.”

The difficult times have kept him realistic.

“I’ve kind of been on a wave here the last two months,” he said. “I would love to ride it for as long as it would last, because I am not so naive to think it will last forever. I’ve been on waves perhaps not as good as this but have come crashing down. I think that’s the key.”

In the second round, Goldstein will play Paradorn Srichaphan of Thailand, who beat sixth-seeded Mario Ancic of Croatia, 7-6 (6), 6-7 (4), 6-2, in nearly three hours.

That wasn’t the only upset. Also departing in the first round was No. 7 Sebastien Grosjean of France. Ricardo Mello of Brazil defeated Grosjean, 1-6, 6-2, 6-3, in 1 hour 53 minutes, and Mello had not won on the main tour since late April, losing five consecutive matches.

Kevin Kim of Newport Coast overcame an 0-3 deficit in the third set to defeat Kenneth Carlsen of Denmark, 7-6 (2), 6-7 (3), 6-4, and could face top-seeded Andre Agassi in the second round.

Kim said he skipped school when he was 12 years old to go watch Agassi play at Indian Wells.

“I hope he wins, because you don’t know how long he’s going to keep playing competitively before he retires,” Kim said. “I’m not saying he’s going to retire soon, but it will be a big opportunity for me. It will be exciting to play him.”

In another match, Juan Ignacio Chela of Argentina was a 6-7 (7), 6-3, 6-4 winner over Marcos Baghdatis of Cyprus.

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Featured matches

Today’s featured matches in the Mercedes-Benz Cup tournament at UCLA’s Los Angeles Tennis Center:

Stadium Court (beginning at 11 a.m.): Vince Spadea vs. Zach Fleishman; James Blake vs. Nicolas Kiefer, Germany (third match); Tommy Haas, Germany, vs. Ivo Karlovic, Croatia (fourth match).

* Grandstand (11 a.m.): Robby Ginepri vs. Wayne Arthurs, Australia (fourth match).

* Stadium Court (7:30 p.m.): Andre Agassi vs. Jean-Rene Lisnard, France; Mardy Fish vs. Taylor Dent.