Jeff Salzenstein defeated Mark Merklein 6-4 7-6 in the Newport qualifying round of 32 on grass. The upset overturned the form book — Mark Merklein came in leading the head-to-head 1–0. Jeff Salzenstein claimed a first win over Mark Merklein in two meetings, narrowing the head-to-head to 1–1.
| Date | Tournament | Round | Surface | Winner | Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1997-07-14 | Washington | R64 | hard | Mark Merklein | 4-6 6-1 6-3 |
Averages over each player's completed matches in the selected window. ATP, WTA & Challenger.