Jan Michael Gambill and Travis Parrott came to the Mercedes-Benz
Cup at UCLA as wildcards and left as champions.
Playing together for the first time, the two Americans defeated
fourth-seeded Joshua Eagle and Sjeng Schalken in the finals 6-4,
3-6, 7-5.
“We knew we had good chemistry,” Gambill said.
“I couldn’t ask for more in a partner.”
Gambill has played with the likes of Andy Roddick, yet it was
not until he paired up Parrott, who had never previously played in
an Association of Tennis Professionals tournament, that he found
someone he truly gelled with.
“I think Travis and I will surprise a lot of
people,” Gambill said.
Their impressive run at this tournament has already raised
eyebrows. En route to the title, the duo defeated the first, third
and fourth seeds.
“After I saw the draw, I thought the first match was
winnable, and then I wasn’t sure,” Parrott said.
Parrott’s coach had contacted Gambill just three days
before the tournament, hoping Gambill would be willing to play in
the doubles draw. The players had known each other while in the
Pacific Northwest Division.
Yet while Gambill has played in a final in this tournament for
the past four years, Parrott was just breaking in. His best result
previously came in 2001 when he won the NCAA doubles title while at
Georgia.
“I wanted to show (Jan Michael) what I could do and got
looser as the tournament went on.”
The final appeared to be headed toward a third set tiebreak, as
neither team had lost their serve in the set with Eagle serving
down 5-6.
However, Gambill and Parrott came up with three huge returns in
the game, making the score 0-40. Eagle sealed the match by
committing a double fault.
“We put lots of pressure on them,” Gambill said.
“I hit two unbelievable returns, and Travis hit a great
one too.”
Earlier in the set, it appeared as though Gambill and Parrott
would never have the opportunity to get match point.
In the first game of the third set, Gambill faced three break
points, smacking a ball out of Straus Stadium in frustration when
the score became 0-40.
However, he regrouped quickly, acing Eagle on game point.
The partners will plan on competing together in future
tournaments, and hope to qualify for the US Open in September.
“Hopefully, this will send some waves,” Gambill
said.