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By Chris Umpierre

Daily Bruin Staff

After Jan-Michael Gambill’s first-round match on Wednesday afternoon, the Los Angeles Tennis Center turned into something out of a Backstreet Boys concert as a group of young girls rushed the 23-year-old phenom asking for autographs and pictures.

Gambill, who was selected as one of People magazine’s 50 Most Beautiful People, put on a strong performance for his young fans as he beat American Cecil Mamiit 6-3, 6-2 to advance to second-round play in the Mercedes-Benz Cup.

Growing up, the 32nd-ranked player in the world never imagined he would one day be a teen idol.

“I never did at this point,” Gambill said. “But definitely I hope I’m a fairly good role model to people who may look up to me. That’s always been a goal of mine.

“I didn’t drink until I was 21, and I don’t do drugs – those kind of things,” he added.

Young fans can expect to see Gambill on the runway and on their television sets in the future.

“I’d like to get my feet wet in modeling and acting if I can, but the main focus is and always will be – at least for the next 10 years – tennis,” Gambill said. “If I get some opportunities to do other things I’d love to take them.”

One such opportunity could be with the television show “Star Trek Voyager.” Gambill has already met with the casting director and figures he’ll get a small role in the upcoming year.

As for his match against former USC All-American Mamiit, Gambill had little trouble.

Behind a powerful serve that reached 125 mph, the 6-foot-3 right-hander registered seven aces. When he wasn’t serving, Gambill had Mamiit chasing balls all over the court.

The match came just three days after he and three other Americans lost to Spain in the Davis Cup semifinals.

After playing on clay in Spain, Gambill said his match with Mamiit was what he needed to successfully transition from clay to hardcourt.

“Luckily I played a guy that doesn’t take the ball to you, he’s more of a counter puncher,” Gambill said. “He runs everything down and he likes to run you if he can.

“If I played against a guy that hits the ball hard, that wouldn’t show me if I move my feet well or not. So this helped me adjust (to hardcourt).”

Next up for Gambill will be Italian Laurence Tieleman, who beat Harel Levy 6-4, 6-0 in the first round. He could meet No. 29 Marcelo Rios in the quarterfinals.

Gambill has been having fun in Los Angeles so far.

“This is a great tournament,” said Gambill, who made it to the tournament’s second round in 1998. “It’s a fun event to be at. There’s a lot going on here.”

• • •

In other action, No. 2 seeded Mark Philippoussis beat Scott Humphries 7-5, 7-6(2). Humphries was a late replacement for U.S. Davis Cup team member Vince Spadea.

Spadea pulled out of the tournament due to over-hydration, which he suffered while in Spain for the Davis Cup semifinals last weekend.

“I’m disappointed not to play in L.A.,” Spadea said in a statement. “I was looking forward to playing here but something unexpected happened. I really wanted to start the hardcourt season off in good fashion.”

No. 5 seeded Wayne Ferreira advanced to the quarterfinals of the tournament with a 7-6, 4-6, 7-5 victory over Paradorn Srichaphan.