Gambill ends Henman's hopes for Hanover

Jan-Michael Gambill, playing in the Swedish capital for the first time, upset second-seeded Tim Henman in straight sets today to reach the quarter-finals of the Stockholm Open in Sweden.

Jan-Michael Gambill, playing in the Swedish capital for the first time, upset second-seeded Tim Henman in straight sets today to reach the quarter-finals of the Stockholm Open in Sweden.

The unseeded American won 7-5, 6-3 in a second-round match lasting 77 minutes on the Royal Tennis Hall's centercourt. It was his biggest win since beating both Pete Sampras and Andre Agassi en route to his first ATP Tour title in Scottsdale, Arizona, in March.

Henman started well, breaking Gambill for a 2-1 lead in the opening set. Gambill broke back in the 10th game to level 5-5 and then broke the Briton again two games later to win the first.

Gambill got the only service break in the second set to lead 2-0. Behind 2-5, Henman saved three match points with serve after playing perhaps his best tennis of the match. But Gambill then held to love to close out the match.

"I returned well today," Gambill said after improving his record to 3-0 against Henman. "I put a lot of pressure on him. This match was different than our two previous matches because he usually puts more balls in.

"I came a lot more to the net. I feel so more confident at the net because in the past I used to come in and hope he'd miss the shot. That's been a major step for my game.

Gambill, ranked 71st in the world going into the tournament, said he feels right at home in Stockholm, a city where Americans have won most titles (12) in the oldest indoor tournament on the tour.

"Stockholm is the place in Europe that feels most like my hometown of Spokane (Washington)," he said. "It might be a little colder here, but there are lot of trees and a lot of water and the look of the city is relaxing. And that's nice because I've been away from home for six months."

Henman, who lost in the semi-finals here last year to eventual winner Todd Martin of the United States, would have needed a victory in the Stockholm Open to gain an alternate spot in the ATP Tour Championship in Hanover, Germany, later this month.

"Obviously I'm disappointed," Henman said. "But I'll just try to leave this behind me and look forward to the next season."

Nicolas Lapentti, the third-seed from Venezuela, also reached the quarterfinals after a three-setter. Lapentti won 5-7, 6-3, 6-3 against Filip Dewulf of Belgium.