By Chris Umpierre
Daily Bruin Staff
After Jan-Michael Gambill’s first-round match on Wednesday
afternoon, the Los Angeles Tennis Center turned into something out
of a Backstreet Boys concert as a group of young girls rushed the
23-year-old phenom asking for autographs and pictures.
Gambill, who was selected as one of People magazine’s 50
Most Beautiful People, put on a strong performance for his young
fans as he beat American Cecil Mamiit 6-3, 6-2 to advance to
second-round play in the Mercedes-Benz Cup.
Growing up, the 32nd-ranked player in the world never imagined
he would one day be a teen idol.
“I never did at this point,” Gambill said.
“But definitely I hope I’m a fairly good role model to
people who may look up to me. That’s always been a goal of
mine.
“I didn’t drink until I was 21, and I don’t do
drugs ““ those kind of things,” he added.
Young fans can expect to see Gambill on the runway and on their
television sets in the future.
“I’d like to get my feet wet in modeling and acting
if I can, but the main focus is and always will be ““ at least
for the next 10 years ““ tennis,” Gambill said.
“If I get some opportunities to do other things I’d
love to take them.”
One such opportunity could be with the television show
“Star Trek Voyager.” Gambill has already met with the
casting director and figures he’ll get a small role in the
upcoming year.
As for his match against former USC All-American Mamiit, Gambill
had little trouble.
Behind a powerful serve that reached 125 mph, the 6-foot-3
right-hander registered seven aces. When he wasn’t serving,
Gambill had Mamiit chasing balls all over the court.
The match came just three days after he and three other
Americans lost to Spain in the Davis Cup semifinals.
After playing on clay in Spain, Gambill said his match with
Mamiit was what he needed to successfully transition from clay to
hardcourt.
“Luckily I played a guy that doesn’t take the ball
to you, he’s more of a counter puncher,” Gambill said.
“He runs everything down and he likes to run you if he
can.
“If I played against a guy that hits the ball hard, that
wouldn’t show me if I move my feet well or not. So this
helped me adjust (to hardcourt).”
Next up for Gambill will be Italian Laurence Tieleman, who beat
Harel Levy 6-4, 6-0 in the first round. He could meet No. 29
Marcelo Rios in the quarterfinals.
Gambill has been having fun in Los Angeles so far.
“This is a great tournament,” said Gambill, who made
it to the tournament’s second round in 1998.
“It’s a fun event to be at. There’s a lot going
on here.”
“¢bull; “¢bull; “¢bull;
In other action, No. 2 seeded Mark Philippoussis beat Scott
Humphries 7-5, 7-6(2). Humphries was a late replacement for U.S.
Davis Cup team member Vince Spadea.
Spadea pulled out of the tournament due to over-hydration, which
he suffered while in Spain for the Davis Cup semifinals last
weekend.
“I’m disappointed not to play in L.A.,” Spadea
said in a statement. “I was looking forward to playing here
but something unexpected happened. I really wanted to start the
hardcourt season off in good fashion.”
No. 5 seeded Wayne Ferreira advanced to the quarterfinals of the
tournament with a 7-6, 4-6, 7-5 victory over Paradorn
Srichaphan.