NOTEBOOK

While New Jersey’s Justin Gimelstob missed his chance, the ITF, which governs the U.S. Open, whacked Flushing Meadows spitter Michal Tabara with a $1,000 fine yesterday.

Gimelstob had threatened to “beat his ass” in the locker room after Tabara, who has skipped town, spit at him following his five-set, first-round win. Gimelstob now will focus his efforts on dispatching Wimbledon champion Goran Ivanisevic in a second-rounder today at Arthur Ashe Stadium featuring two of the most animated characters in the sport.

A qualifier, Gimelstob, once viewed as the next Great American Hope, but now ranked 174th, is attempting to weave a remarkable comeback from a herniated disk that threatened his career.

Gimelstob lost his doubles match yesterday with partner Alex O’Brien. Last night, he threw out the first pitch at Shea last night and cracked Bobby Valentine taught him “the spitball.”

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Tenth-seeded Pete Sampras survived a first-set scare from Brazilian Andre Sa to post a 7-6, 6-4, 6-3 second-round win. The four-time champion trailed 5-2 in the first set before reeling off five straight games and winning the tiebreaker 7-4 to steal the set.

Sampras made 26 unforced errors to Sa’s nine, but his 47 winners were the difference. In the third round, Sampras will face Mikhail Youzhny, who advanced when No. 20 Jan-Michael Gambill retired in the second set.

“I had some pretty tight moments in first set,” Sampras said. “I just got more comfortable and relaxed as game went on. . . . I had to fight to get through it.”

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Defending champion Marat Safin had a struggle against Croatian Ivan Ljubicic, winning a tiebreaker special 7-6 (7-5), 6-7 (7-2), 7-6 (7-5), 7-6 (7-5) to advance to the third round. . . . No. 18 Andy Roddick, who turned 19 yesterday, plays tonight vs. qualifier Jack Brasington.