Chang, Gilbert Play Charity Match On Siebel’s First Day

The Siebel Open started Monday with a salute to the United States Davis Cup players past and present, including three members of the current team who just defeated Austria over the weekend in Uncasville, Conn.

Andy Roddick, Robby Ginepri and Mardy Fish took a victory lap around the tennis court as 15 former Davis Cup players including Jack Kramer, who was the youngest man to play Davis Cup in 1939 and was a Wimbledon champion in 1947, looked on.

In a special charity exhibition match after the ceremony, Brad Gilbert defeated Michael Chang, 6-4. Both Gilbert and Chang previously played Davis Cup tennis and reached the finals of the Siebel Open eight times between them.

Gilbert coached Andre Agassi for eight years and is now Roddick’s coach. Chang retired from tennis in 2003.

Roddick said he would coach Gilbert and also did color commentary for the crowd during the exhibition match about his coach’s play.

After Gilbert double faulted, allowing Chang to even the match at 2-2, Roddick said, “Way to give away your break, Brad,” and told him to do five push-ups. Gilbert quickly dropped to the ground.

Chang was coached by Peter Wright, Cal’s head men’s tennis coach.

Gilbert’s victory earned the Andy Roddick Foundation a $10,000 donation. Chang also received the same amount for a tennis scholarship to the Northern California Tennis Association in Chang’s name.

Roddick said the money would likely go to Kids in Distress, a “place where kids can go to if a court of law decides their parents are unfit to parent.”

After the match, Gilbert said he was initially nervous about playing and worried that he would get his “rear handed to him.”

Despite the win, Gilbert said he prefers coaching to playing and loves tennis.