GAMBILL TAMES BIG-SERVING PHILIPPOUSSIS TO REACH SEMIFINALS
Sourced: Sportscentral 13 November 1999
By Stephan Nasstrom
STOCKHOLM, Nov 12 AP - Jan-Michael Gambill rallied from a set down to edge out Mark Philippoussis 4-6 6-2 7-5 in the quarterfinals of the Stockholm Open tennis tournament today.
American Gambill, ranked 71st in the world, won the match as Philippoussis double-faulted, badly missing his hard second serve. Gambill also had a match point moments earlier at 30-40, but then the Australian aced himself out of trouble.
Playing in the Swedish capital for the first time, Gambill has not reached the semifinals in any tournament since winning his first ATP Tour title at Scottsdale, Arizona, in March, when he upset Pete Sampras and Andre Agassi.
The match could have gone either way.
Early on in the decisive set, Gambill had problem holding his serve. He faced double break point in the opening game, then another one in the fourth game before he finally held to 4-3.
Gambill never came close of breaking Philippoussis' serve until the 10th game. The American's return down the line made it 30-30, and leading 5-4, he was only two points away from the match.
But Philippoussis again aced his way out of trouble, hitting two straight to level 5-5.
Philippoussis, seeded seventh, was playing only his sixth event since undergoing left-knee arthroscopic surgery to repair a lateral meniscus tear on July 7.
The injury occurred in his quarterfinal against eventual champion Sampras at Wimbledon, when he had to retire while leading 6-4 1-2.
Scud falls to Gambill in Stockholm
Sourced: Oncourt.com 13 November 1999
By Paul Macpherson
Mark Philippoussis has suffered a surprise quarter-final loss to American Jan Michael Gambill at the Stockholm Open. After taking the first set, Philippoussis dropped serve twice in the second and again when scores were deadlocked at 5-5 in the third set to bow out 4-6, 6-2, 7-5. "I'm a little disappointed," Philippoussis said. "I was up and down the whole time. I had my chances and didn't grab them and he played a really good match." The Scud will now not play again until the Davis Cup Final between France and Australia begins in Nice on December 3.
Gambill, who served 11 aces to Philippoussis' 12 as he extended his head-to-head record against the Australian to 3-1, said that he was delighted with his return of serve. "I'm usually in the top ten on acing. But I was more pleased with my returns. I returned better than him and you need to do that against one of the two biggest servers in the game." Gambill will now play Swede Magnus Gustafsson, who recovered from a mid-match crisis to beat countryman Jonas Bjorkman 6-4, 0-6, 7-5.
Philippoussis stops Swedish momentum
Source: AAP | Published: Friday November 12 8:07:21 AM
STOCKHOLM, Nov 11 - Mark Philippoussis spoiled Sweden's perfect run today at the $US800,000 ($A1.22 million) Stockholm Open, knocking out the first home player on a day when six were in action.
The Australian Davis Cup final hope overcame a slow start to beat Thomas Johansson 5-7 6-3 7-6 (7-1) to advance to the quarter-finals.
Philippoussis is playing in his sixth event since July knee surgery and is slowly regaining match fitness. It is his final tournament before the December 3-5 Davis Cup showdown with France in Nice.
The world No. 23 now leads Johansson 2-0 afer saving three match points against the Swede in their previous encounter at the US Open last year.
The unseeded Johansson was the first Scandinavian casualty of the day after four compatriots had advanced to the last eight at the Kungliga Hall.
Veteran Magnus Gustafsson, 32 and ranked 68th, stunned German fourth seed Tommy Haas 6-3 7-6 (9-7) in one hour 25 minutes.
That result means that Holland's Richard Krajicek will qualfy as ninth man and alternate for this month's season-ending championship in Hanover.
Haas would have needed to reach the Stockholm final to make the fill-in placing.
Sixth seed Magnus Norman, whose five titles this season rank him alongside world No.1 Andre Agassi at the top of the 1999 trophy table, stopped South Africa's Wayne Ferreira 7-5 6-2.
World No.19 Norman wants a solid finish here to secure a seeding at the Australian Open in two months.
"I have a good chance for a seeding," said the Swede. "Even though it's the end of the season, I'm feeling fresh and eager. But I think I still have a way to go to reach my top form."
Jonas Bjorkman, who stood fourth exactly two years ago but now ranks 76th, beat Swiss qualifier George Bastl 6-4 6-4.
Teenager Andreas Vinciguerra, the youngest man in the field at age 19, knocked out the oldest singles player still active on the ATP Tour, Italy's Gianluca Pozzi, 6-3 6-3 in a battle of the generations.
Top seed Thomas Enqvist, a two-time champion at his home event, was playing the wrap-up match against German Jens Knippschild for a place in the last eight.
Scud spoils party
From ANN
12nov99
STOCKHOLM: Mark Philippoussis spoiled Sweden's perfect run at the $US800,000 Stockholm Open here overnight, defeating the first local player on a day when six were were in action.
In the second round, the Australian beat Thomas Johansson 5-7 6-3 7-6 (7-1).
Unseeded Johansson was the first Swedish casualty of the day after four compatriots had moved into the quarter-finals.
Veteran Magnus Gustafsson, 32 and ranked 68th, stunned German fourth seed Tommy Haas 6-3 7-6 (9-7) – a result means that Holland's Richard Krajicek will qualfy as ninth man and alternate for this month's season-ending championship in Hanover.
Haas would have needed to reach the Stockholm final to make the fill-in placing.
And sixth seed Magnus Norman defeated South Africa's Wayne Ferreira 7-5 6-2.
Jonas Bjorkman beat Swiss qualifier George Bastl 6-4 6-4 and teenager Andreas Vinciguerra, the youngest man in the field at 19, knocked out the oldest singles player still active on the ATP Tour, Italy's Gianluca Pozzi, 6-3 6-3.
Philippoussis advances to Stockholm quarter-finals
ABC News On-Line
Australia's Mark Philippoussis spoiled Sweden's perfect run today at the Stockholm Open, knocking out the first home player on a day when six were in action.
The Davis Cup final hope overcame a slow start to beat Thomas Johansson 5-7 6-3 7-6 (7-1) to advance to the quarter-finals.
Philippoussis is playing in his sixth event since knee surgery in July and is slowly regaining match fitness. It is his final tournament before the December 3-5 Davis Cup showdown with France in Nice.
The unseeded Johansson was the first Scandinavian casualty of the day after four compatriots had advanced to the last eight at the Kungliga Hall.
Magnus Gustafsson, ranked 68th, stunned German fourth seed Tommy Haas 6-3 7-6 (9-7).
That result means that Holland's Richard Krajicek will qualify as ninth man and alternate for this month's season-ending championship in Hanover.
Haas would have needed to reach the Stockholm final to make the fill-in placing.