Gambill: Always popular with the Memphis crowd.
Gambill Passes Early Test
MEMPHIS (February 19) - Jan-Michael Gambill won the first match of his ATP Champions Race 2002 campaign at the expense of Russia's Nikolay Davydenko in the first round of the Kroger St. Jude in Memphis.
Gambill, the No. 3 seed who had lost all three of his previous matches so far this year, came through 6-1, 7-5 to earn a second round meeting with Paul Goldstein.
"It feels good to get the first win," said Gambill, who reached the quarterfinals or better in seven of his first eight tournaments in 2001. "I was on cruise control in the first set, but it was a tough second. I served big today and it helped me get through."
The 24-year-old from Spokane, Washington, who lost in the quarterfinals of the Kroger St. Jude to Tommy Haas 12 months ago, missed five weeks after last year's US Open with shoulder problems.
"I struggled a lot with injuries last year," said Gambill. "It's been tough because you not only need to be physically fit, but you need to be match fit to compete."
Promotion
Gambill, who has been a major part of the ATP's promotional campaigns to push the game's rising stars, said: "The New Balls Please campaign has been great for us. We have been getting a lot of promotion, which has helped us and helped fans get to know some new faces."
Also through to the second round for the first time at an ATP-level event since the US Open last year is Justin Gimelstob, the qualifier who defeated rising American star Mardy Fish 6-3, 7-6(4).
Gambill, the No. 3 seed who had lost all three of his previous matches so far this year, came through 6-1, 7-5 to earn a second round meeting with Paul Goldstein.
"It feels good to get the first win," said Gambill, who reached the quarterfinals or better in seven of his first eight tournaments in 2001. "I was on cruise control in the first set, but it was a tough second. I served big today and it helped me get through."
The 24-year-old from Spokane, Washington, who lost in the quarterfinals of the Kroger St. Jude to Tommy Haas 12 months ago, missed five weeks after last year's US Open with shoulder problems.
"I struggled a lot with injuries last year," said Gambill. "It's been tough because you not only need to be physically fit, but you need to be match fit to compete."
Promotion
Gambill, who has been a major part of the ATP's promotional campaigns to push the game's rising stars, said: "The New Balls Please campaign has been great for us. We have been getting a lot of promotion, which has helped us and helped fans get to know some new faces."
Also through to the second round for the first time at an ATP-level event since the US Open last year is Justin Gimelstob, the qualifier who defeated rising American star Mardy Fish 6-3, 7-6(4).
