Scripting A Success Story Gambill’s Rise In Prominence Breathes New Life Into Men’s Tennis

The blond youngster with the Hollywood looks and actor’s name might be on the verge of stardom.

Colbert’s Jan-Michael Gambill, 20, has supplanted Justin Gimelstob as the most promising young player in U.S. men’s tennis.

Gambill’s ranking has climbed from 227th at the start of the year to 81st entering the Lipton Championships, which begin today.

Gambill will play Australian Mark Woodforde in the opening round. All seeded players, including No. 1 Pete Sampras and Martina Hingis, have first-round byes.

Gambill, named by his mother for actor Jan-Michael Vincent, has drawn much attention recently. He reached the quarterfinals at San Jose and Scottsdale, then made the semifinals at Indian Wells, where he beat Andre Agassi, Jim Courier and Mark Philippoussis.

After losing to Gambill, Agassi said the youngster deserves to play on the U.S. Davis Cup team next month against Russia. Gambill appeared embarrassed by the suggestion.

“I’m on the team right now as a practice partner for the players,” he said. “I’m just looking forward to that at this point.”

American men’s tennis is desperate for a new star, and Lipton will give Gambill a chance to shine in the second-largest tournament in the U.S. Gimelstob, 21, will miss the tournament with a bad back, putting his rivalry with Gambill on hold.

Gimelstob beat Gambill in the final of the 1995 U.S. junior hardcourts. But Gimelstob’s three-year pro career has stalled, and he’s ranked 120th.

“I don’t mind comparisons with Justin,” Gambill said. “I have no problems with that.”

It may appear that the 6-foot-3-1/2 Gambill emerged from nowhere.

Gambill was always second-best as a junior, a big hitter who would often try to hit winning shots from impossible positions. He credits his father, Chuck, and USTA coach Nick Saviano for taking his game to a higher level.

“I’ve got a lot more patience, and mentally I’m tougher,” he said.

With his good looks and powerful groundstrokes, Gambill is a promoter’s dream. But his career has hardly been glamorous so far. Rather than sign with a major tennis academy, he trains at his parents’ 10-acre ranch near Spokane because he feels at home there.

When Gambill turned pro after the loss to Gimelstob, he struggled through challenger tournaments in small cities. In 1996, he reached the final round of six qualifiers to ATP tournaments and lost every time.

“I took some hard knocks,” he said. “It helped a lot.”