Tim Henman got the better of American Jan-Michael Gambill for the first time to set up a semi-final clash with top seed Gustavo Kuerten in ATP Tour Tennis Masters Series in Cincinnati today.
The British number one had lost all three of his previous meetings with Gambill, but produced two hours and 23 minutes of high quality tennis to advance 4-6 6-2 6-2.
Henman, seeded seven, failed to convert any of the five break points he had in the marathon first game, which lasted 12 minutes.
He paid the price in the 10th game, serving his first double fault of the match on break point to concede the set 6-4.
Henman combined aggression and control to race into a 4-0 lead in the second set. Gambill rallied briefly, but Henman took the set 6-2 to level the match.
If any confirmation was needed that Henman was getting to Gambill, it came at the start of the deciding set when the American opened with two consecutive double faults and showed his frustration by whacking a ball out of the stadium. It resulted in a code violation from the umpire.
Despite clinching the next two points, Gambill swore and was lucky to avoid another code violation when he served his third double fault of the game to gift Henman break point, which the he converted.
Henman was in complete control when he achieved a double-break for 3-0, and despite a brief wobble when he lost serve in the next game, he broke once more for 4-1 and went on to clinch the set 6-2 and with it the match.
If Henman is successful against Brazilian Kuerten today, he is sure to face an Australian in the final, as Lleyton Hewitt and Pat Rafter - who beat Greg Rusedski in the quarter-finals - are paired in the other semi-final.
PA