Jan-Michael Gambill Website
NEWS ARCHIVES 2000

Jan-Michael
Gambill Website

  Index
  News
  Archives
  Schedule
  Results
  Rankings
  Profile
  Photos
  FanExperiences
  Messages
  Fan Club
  Links
  Contact Me

23 November 2000 - Jan-Michael pulls out

Jan-Michael decided that the lower back injury was just too painful in the lead up to his match against Norman and he was forced to pull out.  Let's hope that a rest can do the trick and JM can come back strong next year. 

22 November - Jan-Michael wins in Stockholm

Jan-Michael 'gambled' on a quick win in Sweden and that is exactly what he got.   Playing tough, tall Belarusian, Max Mirnyi, Jan Michael won their first round encounter in straight sets 7-5, 6-3 but had to play most of the match in pain from the back injury which has been troubling him in recent weeks.  Now he has a race against time to be fit for a second round match tomorrow.  Already out of the doubles event, JM has today to rest and see if he can play tomorrow where he will play either Magnus Norman or Christian Ruud.  (Norman has got the flu so there may be an upset on the cards!)

21 November - Stockholm Update

Jan-Michael has a hard draw in the Swedish capital this week.  He has been drawn against Max Mirnyi in the first round of the singles draw with a possible second round match against Swedish No.1 Magnus Norman. 

17 November - Gambill fortunes mixed

Jan Michael had good luck when Agassi was forced to pull out and he faced lucky loser Stephane Huet and he used it to his advantage, beating the Frenchman 6-3, 7-5.   However in the third round yesterday Jan Michael found the speed and tenacity of Spaniard Juan Carlos Ferrero just too much.  He took the first set 6-4 but then could not capitalise on his early advantage, losing 4-6, 7-5, 6-4.  Now Jan-Michael will move onto Stockholm next week where he hopes to finish his year in style - last year he reached the semi finals.

15 November - "Lady Luck " with Jan-Michael

Jan-Michael was 4-1 ahead yesterday in his match against Andrei Pavel when the Romania was forced to retire through injury.  It is a nice change for Jan-Michael to benefit because on too many occasions this year he has been forced to gift victories to his opponents because of some injury or other.  Today, rather than face the defending champion Agassi, Jan-Michael will face a French Lucky Loser, Stephane Huet, who is the third LL to get a place in the main draw, after Levy and Prinosil were slotted for Lleyton Hewitt and Hicham Arazi.

13 November - Jan-Michael rendevous' in Paris

Although Jan-Michael is not exactly 100%, he has decided to take his place in the draw in Paris.  Deciding to give the doubles a miss for the moment, JM has been drawn against Andrei Pavel in the first round and although this match will be tough after a fortnight off, JM can look forward to a second round match against Andre Agassi although at this stage, it is not exactly certain that Andre will play!  Andre pulled out of his semi final match against Arnaud Clement in Lyon and may give Paris a miss and move on to prepare for Lisbon - where he is a definite competitor, having won the Australian Open in January this year.

1 November - Jan-Michael injured in Stuttgart

Jan-Michael was a set into his first round match against Roger Federer of Switzerland when he was forced to retire with a slight back injury.  Federer had won the first set on a tie break when the injury occurred and Jan-Michael was forced to retire.   This will mean that he and Scott Humphries will have to default their doubles match later today and that Jan-Michael will probably have to miss the tournament in Lyon next week.

25 October - Jan-Michael has mixed success

JM has had mixed success so far this week.  In doubles together with regular partner Scott Humphries the American twosome swept past the Spanish pair Carbonell and Garcia and will now play the wild card partnership of Lapentti and Bastl.  However in the singles, Jan-Michael had the misfortune to draw the number two seed Thomas Enqvist in the first round and although the Swede has been suffering from a slight ankle injury, he still had more than enough fire power left to beat Jan in a very tight match which was settled by two tie breaks. 

But the good news is that unlike last year, Jan-Michael will definitely be playing at both the last two Tennis Masters series events in Stuttgart and Paris (unlike last year when he had to play the qualifying tournament for the German event).

24 October - Basel gets underway today

After a couple of days rest Jan-Michael will be back on court again in Basel in the doubles event with regular partner Scott Humphries.  Although not seeded, they are getting a reputation as a threat on the doubles circuit because of countless successes this year and last.  Today they face the Spanish pair of Carbonell and Garcia who are also one of the dangerous floater pairs so it will be interesting to see who comes out on top.  In the singles, Jan-Michael has not faired so lucky.  He has been unfortunate to draw second seed Thomas Enqvist in the first round.  Although Enqvist has been suffering form of late, it is well known that he seems to come alive at this time of year when the ATP Tour hits the indoor circuit.  It will be interesting to see if Jan-Michael can build on his successes in Toulouse last week and get himself into the Top 20 by the end of the year. 

After such a lot of hard work during the whole of this year, it would be nice if he had something to show for it.  He has been in the Top 30 since the summer when he had that good run at Wimbledon, so it is time he made the next step.  I just wish he had not been injured during the warm up US hard court tournaments for the US Open because that is traditionally a time when JM should be able to benefit.  I wonder what would have happened if he had been fit then!

21 October - Gambill loses out to Moya

In a tight quarter final there was not much to pick between either player during the first two sets, which had to be settled by tie breaks (one a piece!).  The final set was also touch and go but eventually Carlos Moya came out on top of the final scuffles and went on to meet Max Mirnyi in the semi finals 6-7, 7-6, 6-4.  Jan-Michael also lost out in the semi finals of the doubles event when he and Scott Humphries lost out to home favourites Boutter and Santoro.  Now it is onto Basel for the Davidoff Swiss Open - and remember the runner-up will win a year's supply of aftershave!!! - well a very large bottle!!!!

19 October - Jan-Michael into quarter finals iin Toulouse

Hicham Arazi was on the receiving end of another superb Gambill performance earlier today when Jan-Michael won their second round encounter in straight sets, 6-3, 7-5 and can look forward to a quarter final match against either Rosset or Moya. 

18 October - Jan-Michael back to winning ways

Jan Michael had to come from the edge to beat Francisco Clavet 6-7, 7-6, 6-3 in the first round in Toulouse earlier this week.  He is also still in the doubles competition after he and regular partner Scott Humphries won their first round doubles match today.  In singles, he awaits the winner of the first round match between Hicham Arazi and Greg Rusedski to see who he will play in the second round.

10 October - Its "goodnight Vienna" for Jan-Mike

Jan-Michael was well and truly put through his paces earlier this afternoon against Frenchman Arnaud Clement in the CA Trophy in Vienna.  Instead of looking forward in the singles, Jan-Mike was beaten 6-4, 6-0 by Clement and will have to get some court time in the doubles tournament where he and Scott Humphries will have to play Kafelnikov and Zimonjic in the first round - tomorrow.

8 October - Tough draw for Jan-Michael in Vienna

Jan-Michael has a really tough draw in Vienna.  He is set to play Arnaud Clement in the first round - Clement has been doing rather well lately beating Andre at the US Open.  If JM can get past that match, he will play the winner between Tommy Haas and Alex Corretja.  And I don't even want to think past this - and I know JM won't so I'm not going to either.

6 October - Gambill back in action on ATP Tour

JM returns to action in Vienna this week in the first event of the Autumn indoor season.  Although not high enough in the rankings to be seeded, Jan-Mike must fancy his chances as several of the bigger threats have already pulled out.  Sampras is out for personal reasons - but probably on his honeymoon! - and Lleyton Hewitt has had to pull out because of a virus. 

6 September - US Open now over

Jan-Michael and Scott Humphries lost in the doubles on Monday during a very rain affected match and then because of the bad weather (and the fact that Martina was doing so well), they were forced to pull out of the mixed doubles because of scheduling. 

Jan-Michael is not at present going to the Olympics but he may get a call up during the next few days and a chance to reconsider his initial refusal.  Andre Agassi has been forced to pull out of the Olympic tennis event because of his family medical problems.  More news when available.

4 September - Doubles consolation for Jan-Michael

In another rain affected day of tennis, Jan-Michael's third round match against Thomas Johansson was not quite the celebration that we all thought.  In a humdinger of a match which included tie breaks in the last two sets, Jan-Michael came up second best to the Swede who triumphed 3-6, 6-3, 7-6, 7-6.  Jan Michael did have chances to take the match into a final set when he led 5-4 in the 4th but could not hold serve and eventually Johansson won in the tie break. 

Jan does have some consolation though because he is still in both the Mens and Mixed Doubles events.  Today he is set to play both - Mens Doubles 2nd on Court 10 (2nd Round) and 5th on Court 11 for the Mixed quarter finals.  I read an article where Magnus Norman was quoted as saying he did not mind his "girlfriend" Martina Hingis playing mixed doubles with a player like Jan-Michael because as he said "I am hopeless at doubles and could not stand the pressure and if she wants to win some matches, she needs to play with someone else."

3 September - Jan-Mike into Round 3

Saturday was a fairly busy day for JM.  He won his postponed second round singles match against Mark Philippoussis in straight sets, 6-4, 6-4, 6-4 and then later progressed to the third round in the mixed doubles with Martina Hingis, beating Sidot and Olhovsky with the loss of only 5 games.  Today he is set to play Thomas Johansson (just as long as the rain holds off for long enough) and men's doubles with Scott Humphries. 

I think Jan-Michael's match with Mark was probably one of the best matches yesterday but they did not show it in England so I can't tell you many details.  More news updates soon.

2 September - US Open Updates

Having spent most of Thusday racing from court to court in doubles action (winning both matches), Jan's second round singles match against Mark P was postponed last night because of rain.  It means that he is going to be a busy bunny today if he gets round to playing all the matches they have planned for him.  Instead of being the marque match on Arthur Ashe court, he is second on the Louis Armstrong court and this will probably be better for both players as the real fans will be able to get closer - rather than all those uninterested corporates/empty seats that usually occur on the Arthur Ashe court.   I hear that Todd Martin vs Michael Chang match was sending people elsewhere yesterday, to watch Safin and Pioline - just another case of bad planning by the tournament organisers... but I am straying from the point.

After crushing Mark in three quick sets (probably not but we can hope), Jan will hardly have time for a quick shower and change of togs before he is due on one of the outside courts with Martina Hingis to play their second round mixed doubles match.  And then there is Men's Doubles.  Scott and Jan Mike's second match is not actually listed in the schedule but you never know they might get that in too!! - or have them in action tomorrow.  More news tomorrow.  Actually I am quite glad that the JM/Mark match was moved because I can see it because it is on at a more reasonable hour in Britain....

31 August - Jan Michael in New York

Less than 24 hours after playing one of the toughest five set matches of his career, Jan-Michael will be back on court today - not once but twice.  He was two sets down against fellow American Mardy Fish before he turned things around to win 5-7, 5-7, 6-4, 6-3, 6-2 and will play Mark Philippoussis in the next round on Friday. Unfortunately, because they did not show any of the match on TV in England I can't give you any details.  

However Jan-Mike's mind won't be on this match because today he is set to play doubles with regular doubles partner Scott Humphries and mixed doubles with none other than Martina Hingis - should be fun.  The Jan-Mike/Martina partnership might be seeded but they have a tough opening match against the American partnership of Donald Johnson and Kimberly Po.  The latter partnership won the mixed title at Wimbledon so will probably be a tough challenge for JM and M.  In the men's doubles event JM and Scott take on seeded opposition in the South African partnership Adams and De Jager.  It will be interesting to see who prevails because I suspect that Jan-Mike and Scott will have 100% of the crowd on their side.

23 August - US Open Draw News

Jan-Mike has drawn Marty Fish (one of the American wildcards) in the first round of the US Open which kicks off next Monday 28th August.  He faces a possible match against Mark Philippoussis in Round 2. 

23 August - Washington Comeback News

Victories over Alex O'Brien and Christophe Rochus last week in Washington DC before a three set match against Nicolas Kiefer at the quarter final stage, show that Jan-Mike may be over the worst of his ankle injury.  This week he is playing in the Hamlet Cup in Long Island.  He had a bye in the opening round before a straight sets victory over Thomas Johansson.  He plays either Corretja or Moya in Round 3.

6 August - Jan-Mike still sidelined through injury

Jan-Michael did actually get a direct entry into the Tennis Masters event in Cincinnati but had to withdraw due to his injury in the final of Los Angeles.  Let's hope he can get back to full fitness by the US Open. 

31 July - Los Angeles Final appearance makes up for Davis Cup disappointment

After having to shoulder the burden of representing America in the Davis Cup, when the main protagonists Sampras and Agassi were forced to decline with various injuries, Jan-Michael's summer went from strength to strength this past week with a final appearance in both singles and doubles at Los Angeles at the Mercedes Benz Cup.  Seeded 6, Jan-Michael beat Cecil Mamiit, Laurence Tieleman, Jason Stoltenberg and Arnaud Clement before he was forced to retire injured during the final against Michael Chang last night.  

Gambill had begun the match with his left knee wrapped as it had been hurting him all week. He said "My knee started getting worse in the second set," and was forced to wear bulging ice wraps on his knee and ankle after the match.   No service breaks in the first set meant for a tie break which Jan-Mike won 7-2, taking the last six points and finishing it off with two aces.

However, with things the way they stood, Chang had some luck as Gambill's knee and ankle started to hurt even more as the second set progressed.  After receiving treatment on his knee during the latter stages of the set, Gambill tried to smash a Chang lob whilst not landing on his left leg, landed badly on his right ankle and this was eventually to prove curtains for him.  He had chances to break but once Chang had held serve which was for the set, Jan-Michael retired but received a standing ovation from the crowd who realised his courage in continuing.

"I was trying not to land on my left leg. I came down on it wrong. I heard a pop. That's a bad sound," Gambill said. "It was very painful."

Because of the ankle and knee injuries, Jan-Michael and Scott Humphries were forced to pull out of the doubles final which gave the title to the Aussie partnership of Stolle and Kilderry - but still not a bad week's work.

Jan-Michael was not due to play in Toronto this week in the Tennis Masters Series partly because the cut off point came before the end of his heroics at Wimbledon so hopefully will be back right again for the future warm up tournaments before the US Open.  

6 July - Gambill pushes Pistol Pete all the way in brave Wimbledon display

Pistol Pete paid tribute to Jan-Michael after their Wimbledon quarter final match and said "Gambill has a lot of potential.  That is where the future of American tennis is - right there.  He can only improve."  Coming from the six time Wimbledon champion, this is certainly a compliment.  If anyone knows just what it takes to win on the grass and become one of the best players in the world it is Sampras!  

Having said all this, the match contained some superb tennis strokes and both players brought out the best in each other.  Pistol Pete was forced to up the pace throughout the match as Jan-Michael pushed him all the way.  Jan-Michael  certainly lived up to his name and played some of the best tennis of his career to match Sampras shot for shot for most of the contest.  He had been really excited at the prospect of playing   Pete on the Centre Court - calling him the King of Grass beforehand - and enjoyed every moment of the experience and definitely gained a few more fans, who cheered every winner to come from the racket of the American underdog.

Nerves may have played their part early on but Jan-Michael soon settled into the task in hand.  After Sampras took the first set 6-4, Jan-Michael matched him shot for shot throughout the second set and took the set to a tie break which he promptly won 7-4 and quickly threatened Sampras' serve early in the third set, and for a while it looked as though an upset could be on the cards.  However, as the service game score mounted, Sampras upped the pace again (like he usually does) and broke Jan-Michael's serve in the 9th game of the set and soon had a two sets to one lead.  

Although Gambill was clearly in pain (having hurt his chest and thigh earlier in the match), he did not give up and fought all the way through the fourth set.  Sampras looked on edge and must have realised just how close Jan-Michael is to challenging him - after all the younger American is not frightened of Pistol Pete having beaten him last year in Scottsdale.  The defending champion finally got the last decisive break in the 9th game of the fourth set and finished the match in style with his 26th ace. Pete now plays the qualifier Vladimir Voltchkov in the semi finals. 

Overall, there was not much to pick between the players and in the end it was Sampras’ experience of the big occasions and in particular playing at Wimbledon that probably gave him the edge.

And Jan-Michael's reaction to the match?  He said “It was a good match. We both played some great points and games out there.  Pete was smart. He made me play really hard. I didn’t really have any trouble until 4-4 in any of the sets I lost but he then turned up the pressure and that is why he wins. He knows what to do on the big points. He comes up with the shots when he needs them.”

Now Jan-Michael has to wait to see if his Wimbledon heroics get him a place in the US Davis Cup team which plays Spain in Santander in 3 weeks time.  John McEnroe hinted during his commentating for British TV yesterday that Jan-Michael is certainly one of the four players in the team but we await to see whether he will be one of the singles players.  He is certainly a better player than last year - when he last wore the US team jersey and so we hope he will finally get to show what he is made of in Davis Cup play.

3 July - Jan-Michael through to his first Grand Slam Quarter Final

After victories over Lleyton Hewitt, Fabrice Santoro and a three set victory over Paul Goldstein, Jan-Michael took on 9th seed Thomas Enqvist for a place in the quarter finals.   He won a close first set on the tie break but lost the second set.  In the third set, he had a break advantage before rain intervened and the players rushed to the locker rooms.  The time to think and consider things obviously did a great deal of good because after the rain Jan-Michael came out like a man possessed and finished off the match in 4 sets, 7-6, 3-6, 6-3, 6-4 and now takes his place in his first quarter final against top seed and defending champion Pete Sampras. 

Jan-Michael does know how to beat Pete because he did so last year when he won his first career title in Scottsdale so let's hope he can do it again as he attempts to go further than he has ever gone before.

29 June - Jan-Michael into Third Round at Wimbledon

After the rain of Monday, Jan-Michael was forced to play two rounds at Wimbledon on consecutive days.  First he took on Lleyton Hewitt - the 7th seed from Australia - and from the start, Jan-Michael wowed the crowds with his ability on court as well as his looks and determination to succeed.  Lleyton was drowning two sets down before he knew it and the crowd on Centre Court, expecting a rout the other way round, were extremely surprised.  I was sitting on court opposite the Royal Box and several people wanted to know more about the American blond bombshell who was causing this upset. (so I told them!)  During the third set, Lleyton made a comeback but failed at the latter stages to take that set.  Jan-Michael took his chances and raced to victory 6-3, 6-2, 7-5.

Yesterday's match with Frenchman Fabrice Santoro could have been harder.  Both the players hit double handed off both wings but after losing the opening set, Jan-Michael made short thrift of the shorter guy and came off with a four set victory 4-6, 6-4, 6-2, 6-2 and will next face fellow American Paul Goldstein in the third round.  This is farther than JMG has ever been and we hope he can go even further.  With only two seeds left in the top half of the draw (where JMG is placed), it is a chance that JMG must take.

I have also heard rumours this morning that John McEnroe is after JMG for Davis Cup duty in Santander....  With the possibility of Sampras being injured, the Americans might have to have a quick change round in team gear!!!!

25 June - Nottingham Round Up

Apologies for the lack of news updates during the past few days.  Jam-Michael did really well at Nottingham and reached his first semi final of the year, beating Martin Lee, Fabrice Santoro and Gianluca Pozzi before he lost on Friday to Byron Black who won the event two years ago. 

Now it is onto Wimbledon and a tough first round match against Aussie hotshot Lleyton Hewitt which will be played on Centre Court tomorrow.  Jan-Michael and Lleyton will be on court after the traditional opening match (Pete Sampras vs his first stooge) and Anna Kournikova against Sandrine Testud.  Good luck Jan-Michael, you are on form so go to it and beat Lleyton!

17 June - JMG now out of Singles and Doubles

Sorry for the lack of news since Monday.  Had to do major hours at work.   Will hope to be able to do more when Jan-Michael is playing in Nottingham next week. 

Anyway you will no doubt know that Jan-Mike lost to Cedric Pioline at Queens.  He did actually play really well for a set and a half.  However, Cedric came back at him during the second set and rather steamrolled the affair in the final set.  The full results details will be uploaded soon.

The draw news should be available early tomorrow so check back soon for more.

12 June - Jan-Mike to play Pioline tomorrow

Jan-Mike made easy work of his first round match today at Queens Club.  He beat Romanian Adrian Voinea 6-3, 6-3 and became the first winner at this year's tournament.   He now plays Cedric Pioline- in a match that will be the 4th match on the centre court on Tuesday.

11 June - Jan-Mike back on grass at Queens Club

Jan-Michael returns to Queens Club this week to take part in the Stella Artois tournament in the run up to Wimbledon.  He will play Adrian Voinea from Romania in the first round with the winner taking on Cedric Pioline (who has a first round bye) in Round 2.  I saw Jan-Michael this morning practicing with Pete Sampras and he looks fit, well and ready for the battles ahead.

31 May - Gambill loses the gamble against Federer

After his brilliant victory against Nicolas Kiefer on Monday, Jan-Michael was back on court today to play his second round match against Roger Federer from Switzerland.   Unfortunately he could not continue his heroics from the other day when he lost in straight sets 6-7, 3-6, 3-6 and will now concentrate all his energies on the doubles event.  Jan-Michael and his regular partner Scott Humphries have been doing really well this year so let's hope their success can continue.

30 May - Jan-Michael celebrates a big victory at Roland Garros

Jan-Mike won his first match at Roland Garros yesterday.  He beat Nicolas Kiefer who was the 8th seed in three straight sets 6-3, 7-5, 6-1.  Jan-Michael had prepared well and right from the start it looked as though he was in overall control - he had a 98% success on points won on first serve (39 from 40) - that's fantastic. 

Kiefer had been suffering from various injuries during the 2000 season and he was never at his best.  I think he had not prepared too well - I saw him walking up (and down) the Champs Elysees the previous night - out on the town when he should have been safely and sensibly tucked up in bed!  Jan-Mike next plays Roger Federer who beat Wayne Arthurs in 4 sets.  With rain completely disrupting play today, the schedule for tomorrow is completely up the shoot - so more updates soon.

17 May - Rain affects Jan-Michael in Hamburg

Jan-Mike won the opening set of his second round match against Andrei Medvedev by 6-1 and everything looked to be going well when the rain came with the score at 6-1, 4-5..   The delay obviously affected his concentration and when the players returned to court, the Ukrainian French Open finalist from 1999 came back to win 1-6, 7-5, 6-2.

15 May - Jan-Mike defeats Chang

Jan-Mike is in the second round.  He beat Michael Chang 7-5, 7-5.  (Sorry that's all for now.  Its nearly midnight and I have to get my beauty sleep!)   Well done JMG!

14 May - Jan-Mike through Qualifying in Hamburg

Wins over Jens Knippschild and Albert Portas (both good clay courters) in the qualifying competition at the Tennis Masters Series event in Hamburg mean that J-M is now in the main draw.  He plays fellow American Michael Chang in the first round on Monday (5th match) and will face either Hrbaty or Medvedev.  Although we have not been seeing Jan-Michael much on the singles courts of the ATP Tour, things have still been going well in the doubles events.  A first doubles title came in San Jose with Scott Humphries followed a successful run in the AXA Cup in London and significant success in Indian Wells and Miami.  We will be saying shortly that he is a doubles player more than a singles player.....!!

On another note, Jan-Michael has signed a modelling contract with Ford.  (I found this out from the man himself!)

MARCH UPDATE - Indian Wells Practice and Miami Heat Quarters

After being refused a Wild Card into the Singles at the tournament in Scottsdale, Jan-Michael decided to stay away, even though he would have been welcomed into the doubles draw with partner Scott Humphries. Instead, he had to sit it out and watched Lleyton Hewitt take his title. The lack of any major results during the past few months meant that Jan-Michael's ranking had slipped behind that necessary to gain direct entry into the Tennis Masters Series in Indian Wells. He was forced to qualify which he did winning 2 matches over 2 days and thus he took his place in the main draw against Wayne Ferreira. Unfortunately that is as far as things went and Jan-Mike was soon back on the sidelines and concentrating on doubles in preparation for the Ericsson Open in Miami. Jan-Michael spent a lot of time on the practice courts in California - touching up the tan by practicing topless at every opportunity.

After an easy first round victory over Julian Alonso (he actually retired), Jan-Michael lost to Stefan Koubek in the second round. Incidently, the Austrian was on some of the hottest form of his career and eventually won the tournament so defeat to him was not that bad!

26 February - Doubles Race hotting up

After another first round loss to Hicham Arazi, Jan-Michael teamed up with current regular doubles partner Scott Humphries for another successful week. 

19 February - Jan Michael in London

After being ill last year on the journey over to London, I never thought that Jan-Michael would come back for more this year.  However he is back this side of the Atlantic and in London this week to play in the AXA Cup just round the corner from Britain's Millennium Dome (Perhaps he wants to pay it a visit!!!)  JM has a tough opening round draw against Hicham Arazi who although mainly a clay courter, always seems to do well in London.  A first round win there would mean a match against Marat Safin or Fabrice Santoro.

18 February - Jan Michael in Memphis

After receiving a bye in the opening round of the singles event, Jan-Mike beat Orlin Stanoytchev 6-2, 6-3 in the second round before coming unstuck against Rainer Schuttler in Round 3.  Although he took the 2nd set easily, Jan-Mike could not stop the German in the final set tie break.

This time last year, Jan-Michael had never won a doubles match.  However, now he has won loads.  He now pairs up with Scott Humphries on a regular basis and together they had one win and on loss this week.  After a bye in the opening round, the American Duo beat Haas and Weiner in three sets (two of which were tie breaks) but then lost to another regular pairing of Gimelstob and Lareau.

11 February - Gambill and Humphries on a roll

I really have to apologise for the lack of information this week. As many of you may already know, I was in Ostrava last weekend for the British/Czech Davis Cup tie and it has taken me a few days to recover. However, now I am back. Although the singles events seem to be slightly unsuccessful at present, Jan-Michael is more than holding his own on the doubles court. Together with Scott Humphries, they have come through two rounds in the doubles event at the Sybase Open in San Jose. They beat Grabb and Reneberg in the opening round 6-1, 6-7, 6-3 and last night beat the Jenson brothers 6-0, 6-1. Now they face the partnership of Palmer and Zimonjic in the semi finals.

Unfortunately Jan-Michael's participation in the singles event did not last long. Seeded 8, he had to play Justin Gimelstob in the opening round and lost to his American rival in straight sets, 7-6, 6-2.

17 January - Jan-Mike falls at the first hurdle

I realise that the draw details below were eventually wrong. However, for some reason, Jan-Mike does not seem to like the heat of Melbourne (even though this was "surf bum" country if ever I saw one. However, the wily Wayne Black (a lucky loser) put paid to any chances that JM had on the hard courts of Melbourne Park. The match last little over 2 hours (2:08 exactly) with the final score being 6-7, 1-6, 4-6. From an immediate review of the stats, JM's serve obviously let him down and his double fisted groundstrokes produced many more unforced errors than his opponent. I am not going to speculate as to the reason for this until we hear/see/read any post match interviews!

14  January - Jan-Michael draws another Swede....

Jan-Mike has drawn another Swedish player in the opening round of this year's Aussie Open. However, this time it is not Thomas Enqvist but Magnus Gustafsson. Sorry for the lack of an update since Tuesday - computer problems this end.... More views on the Open draw and other interesting match ups later..... 

11  January - Jan-Michael plays night match on Wednesday

Jan-Mike will play Magnus Norman (the No.2 seed) in the first night match on Wednesday (that is 7am Wednesday GMT). It should be quite a tough affair because Magnus was playing so well towards the end of the season. However, anything is possible and I am sure JMG will have loads of support from the crowd in Auckland! Unfortunately, JMG's presence in the doubles did not last more than one match when he and partner Scott Humphries were beaten in the first round earlier today. 

10  January - Jan-Michael in Auckland

Jan Mike is the first of my favourites to play this week. He beat Richard Fromberg in the opening round of the Heineken Open 4-6, 6-3, 6-4. The draw has him probably up against Magnus Norman who has to play a lucky loser in the first round. Jan-Michael and Scott Humphries are teaming up again in the doubles event and are set to play later in the day on Tuesday.

The new rankings list published today shows the No.1 spot going to Fabrice Santoro - this is just unbelievable. How can this happen? The only top tenner from the end of 1999 near the top is Thomas Enqvist!

6  January - Adelaide News

Unfortunately, Jan-Mike bit the dust in the singles event earlier today when he was beaten by Sebastien Grosjean, 3-6, 7-6, 6-2 and things did not get any better when the partnership of Humphries and Gambill were beaten in the doubles event by Goldstein and Koenig.

5  January - Adelaide News

Jan-Mike started the year where he finished off last year. He beat home favourite Wayne Arthurs in the first round in Adelaide and will now play Sebastien Grosjean in the next round. It was a tight match with JM coming back from a set down to win 3-6, 7-6, 6-4. JM is set to be second on court in Adelaide (in the middle of the night for us Brits).

Jan-Mike is also playing in the doubles event. He has teamed up with fellow American again Scott Humphries and together they beat some more Aussies, Kratzman and Tramacchi 6-3, 6-0. Seeing as though this time last year, Jan-Michael had never won a doubles match on the ATP Tour, he is not doing too badly now. In the last 12 months, he has been in a final in Europe and semi final at Key Biscayne.

2  January 2000 - Adelaide News

Jan-Michael is in the draw for the AAPT Championships in Adelaide.   He is set to play Wayne Arthurs in the first round, and if he wins that he will play Sebastien Grosjean or Andrew Ilie in round 2.  Good Luck Jan-Mike for this new ATP Year. 

I hope you enjoy the hot summer sun in Australia, and that  your tan is nice and golden by the time I arrive in Scottsdale in March !!(Yes, I am coming to America again for a month in March to cover the tournaments at Scottsdale, Indian Wells and Key Biscayne!!!! - look forward to seeing you there).