Jan-Michael Gambill


Jan-Michael Charles Gambill is an American tennis player who made his professional debut in 1996. His career-high singles ranking is World No. 14, which he achieved on June 18, 2001. Best known for his unusual double-handed forehand, Gambill reached the quarterfinals of the 2000 Wimbledon Championships, the final of the 2001 Miami Masters, and won three singles titles.

Personal life

Gambill spent the early years of his life in the countryside of Spokane, Washington. He currently resides in both Los Angeles, California and Kailua-Kona, Hawaii. While Jan-Michael has been sponsored by car manufacturer Jaguar, he also supports real life Jaguars and tigers through Cat Tales Zoological Park, an organization dedicated to saving the lives of big cats. Gambill has also raised money for his long-time friend Sir Elton John's charity, the Elton John AIDS Foundation.
Gambill's high-profile career as a professional athlete has evolved into coaching world-class tennis players as well as being an international analyst for BeIn sports. Gambill was also sponsored by Prince for both his racquets and apparel.

Tennis career

1996–2005

Gambill began playing tennis at the age of five, looking up to multiple Grand Slam singles titlists Jimmy Connors and John McEnroe. He has defeated, amongst other top players, former World No. 1s, Roger Federer, Carlos Moyá, Lleyton Hewitt, Gustavo Kuerten, Marcelo Rios, Jim Courier, Pete Sampras, and Andre Agassi, as well as Grand Slam champions Michael Chang, Thomas Johansson, Sergi Bruguera, and Gastón Gaudio. His best performances at Grand Slams have been reaching the quarterfinals of Wimbledon in 2000 and the fourth round of the US Open in 2002. His run at Wimbledon in 2000 saw him beat Lleyton Hewitt, Fabrice Santoro, Paul Goldstein and Thomas Enqvist before losing to eventual champion Pete Sampras. His run to the final of the 2001 Miami Masters included wins over Hewitt, Gaudio, and Thomas Enqvist. He was coached by his father Chuck Gambill, who also coaches Jan-Michael's younger brother Torrey.
Throughout his career, Gambill was hampered by numerous injuries. Most prominently, while still in the world's top 40, he suffered a recurring shin condition, which severely limited him on the ATP Tour after 2004. He also started serving harder to try and compensate for lack of movement, which resulted in a shoulder injury.

Post–2005

Gambill played for the Boston Lobsters in the World Team Tennis league from 2008 on, alongside other successful American players such as Andre Agassi, John Isner, and Robby Ginepri.
In September 2009, Gambill reached the semifinals of the USA F23 Futures tournament in his first pro match of the year.
He competed in three Challenger events in 2010, and reached the quarterfinals of the USA F25 Futures in Irvine, California. Since October 2010, Gambill has not competed on the pro tour.
Gambill was a guest teaching at the Coto de Caza Golf & Tennis club in Southern California in 2010. Since July 2011, he has coached top 10 player Coco Vandeweghe, his former Boston Lobsters teammate, on the WTA Tour. As of 2017, he is currently coaching top 50 player Jared Donaldson on the ATP Tour.

Grand Slam and ATP Tour singles titles

OutcomeNo.DateTournamentSurfaceOpponentScore
Winner1.March 8, 1999Scottsdale, United StatesHard Lleyton Hewitt7–6, 4–6, 6–4
Runner-up1.July 30, 2000Los Angeles, United StatesHard Michael Chang7–6, 3–6, retired
Winner2.March 5, 2001Delray Beach, United StatesHard Xavier Malisse7–5, 6–4
Runner-up2.April 2, 2001Miami, United StatesHard Andre Agassi6–7, 1–6, 0–6
Runner-up3.July 28, 2002Los Angeles, United States Hard Andre Agassi2–6, 4–6
Runner-up4.January 5, 2003Doha, QatarHard Stefan Koubek4–6, 4–6
Winner3.March 10, 2003Delray Beach, United States Hard Mardy Fish6–0, 7–6

Performance timeline

To prevent confusion and double counting, information in this table is updated only after a tournament or the player's participation in the tournament has concluded. This table is current through the 2010 Paris Masters.