Tennis: Sapsford rises above Gilbert

DANNY SAPSFORD, the Surrey player ranked No 641 in the world, lifted home spirits at the Direct Line Insurance Championships in Beckenham yesterday by beating the world No 12 Brad Gilbert in straight sets.

Sapsford, 24, who was on the verge of retiring last year to concentrate on coaching, saw off the top-seeded American, 6-4, 6-4, shortly after Jeremy Bates had lost to the Bahamian qualifier, Mark Knowles.