You forgot to create this one, Z!
I think we can let the old thread rest in peace. It's served its time.
I think we can let the old thread rest in peace. It's served its time.
Flags, anyone?
Overheard on the tournament walkie-talkie late Friday night: "Do we have a flag for Uruguay and Latvia?" :awww:
River Oaks likes to fly the flags of the players contending on the final weekend, but the two teams that reached the doubles final complicated things for the club. It pits Ernests Gulbis and Ranier Schuettler vs. Marcel Granollers-Pujol and Pablo Cuevas.
Gulbis is Latvian and Cuevas is from Uruguay, although he makes his home in Buenos Aires, Argentina. The German Schuettler and the Spaniard Granollers-Pujol presented far less of a problem.
Good news: The colors of Latvia and Uruguay will fly today.
DOUBLES REVIEW -- GULBIS-SCHUETTLER CAPTURE FIRST ATP TITLE TOGETHER
- Ernests Gulbis of Latvia and Rainer Schuettler of Germany defeated No. 3 seeds Pablo Cuevas of Uruguay and Marcel Granollers-Pujol of Spain 7-5, 7-6(3) in Saturday's final between two first-time teams.
- Gulbis captured his first career ATP title in his final debut and Schuettler his third in eight ATP finals. The German's last title came in Chennai three years ago.
- Gulbis and Schuettler converted three of 11 break points while saving five of seven break points on their serve. They won 68% of second serve points compared to their opponents' 53%.
- After the final, the champions dropped their bags in the locker room and went out the back door to take a celebratory swim in the club's pool, much to the surprise of the club members who were enjoying the evening poolside.
- Cuevas and Granollers-Pujol entered their first ATP final without dropping a set during the week.
WHAT THE PLAYERS SAID:
Ernests Gulbis: "I'm happy because I wasn't satisfied at all with my singles performance. It was my first tournament on clay and it was tough for me to go from the hard court season to clay. But I'm happy I played better and better every match in doubles. So I hope I play better on clay now."
Rainer Schuettler: "It was a great tournament and the first time we played together and from match-to-match we played better. At the beginning I wasn't so confident with my doubles performance but we won and I'm happy."
Something about the word 'flamboyant' always makes me associate it with someone gay :lol: Scott would be happy, at least - even if the fangirls aren'tDoubles champs make a splash
No matter how happy James Blake or Marcel Granollers-Pujol will be about winning the singles title today, they probably won't show it more flamboyantly than did the doubles champions Ernests Gulbis and Rainer Schuettler.
Gulbis and Schuettler repaired to the locker room after receiving the trophy, removed their shoes and walked out and jumped into the River Oaks pool. This was believed to be a first for the tournament, which has been around since 1931.
The Latvian Gulbis was especially ecstatic. It was his first title of any kind at the ATP level.
If you read the full article here, you'd see that the author really had some choice descriptions for the Nishikori-Sela match before that :lol:Having demolished Alex Bogomolov in the first round, Ernests Gulbis had a tougher opponent in Nicolas Massu.
That he came through, was because unlike Massu, he adapted to the conditions of the court better
Gulbis eventually came through a first set tie-break, after Massu lost his composure and concentration, and the second set was a much more clean-cut affair.
The Latvian took the first five games without much difficulty, and although he had a slight blip afterwards, he eventually wrapped up a 7-6, 6-2 win.
Gulbis now faces Nishikori this evening, and along with Marcel Granollers, must be considered one of the favourites to win this year's tournament.
Commentators curse Crackpot journalism not in keeping with the grandly titled Royal Gazette of Bermuda:lol:I know who jinxed Ernie :speakles:
From the Royal Gazette of Bermuda, by Josh Ball:
If you read the full article here, you'd see that the author really had some choice descriptions for the Nishikori-Sela match before that :lol:
Gulbis iztur pirmo pārbaudījumu
Tenisists Ernests Gulbis otro gadu pēc kārtas pārvarējis Francijas atklātā čempionāta pirmo apli. Vakar no viņa rokas krita vācietis Simons Groils – 6–4, 6–0 un 6–4.
27 gadus vecais tenisists līdz šim bija spēlējis trīs Grand Slam sacensību pamatturnīrā, allaž zaudējot pirmajā kārtā, un Gulbja veiksmīgā spēle neļāva viņam šo tradīciju lauzt.
Piektdienas izloze Latvijas tenisa faniem sākotnēji sagādāja nelielu izbīli – Gulbim jāspēlē ar Argentīnas tenisistu Davidu Nalbandjanu, kurš Parīzē izlikts ar sesto numuru. Ernests viņu šogad gandrīz pārspēja Indianvelsas turnīrā, taču tas bija uz cietā tipa segumiem, nevis uz Gulbim neparocīgā māla. Turklāt Nalbandjans Francijas atklātajā čempionātā allaž spēlējis lieliski, divreiz aizkļūstot līdz pusfinālam. To, ka pret Nalbandjanu Gulbjim būtu daudz mazākas cerības, apliecināja argentīnieša pārliecinošā uzvara pār citu māla laukumu speciālistu Karlosu Berloku – 6–2, 6–4 un 6–1.
Grūti izskaidrot, kāpēc, bet datorā redzamie izlozes rezultāti nesakrita ar tiem, kādi klātienē tika paziņoti spēlētājiem. Šajā gadījumā starpība bija milzīga – Nalbandjana vietā pretī stājās kāds no kvalifikācijas turnīra veiksminiekiem, par kuru kļuva vācietis Simons Groils. Rangā viņš ieņem tikai 193. vietu, taču dažkārt ir izdevīgāk spēlēt ar kādu augstāk stāvošu tenisistu, nevis to, kurš pārvarējis atlases sietu, – trīs uzvaras kvalifikācijā apliecina, ka spēlētājs ir labā formā, turklāt jau pieradis pie laukumiem.
Par Groila varējumu pirms mača bija grūti spriest. Zināms, ka kvalifikācijas turnīra otrajā kārtā viņš mājās aizsūtījis talantīgo japāni Keju Nišikori, kuram Gulbis šogad uz māla zaudēja Bermudu Challenger turnīrā. Toties februārī Bezonsonas Challenger sacensībās (telpās uz cietā seguma) viņš bez ierunām kapitulēja mūsu otrā numura Anda Juškas priekšā – 4–6 un 0–6. Groilam šis ir pirmais French Open pamatturnīrs, un pie uzvarām Grand Slam sacensībās viņš vēl nav ticis. 2006. gadā viņš spēlēja Vimbldonā un US Open, pērnā gada sākumā – Austrālijā un allaž zaudēja pirmajā aplī.
Gulbis Parīzē piekto reizi pēc kārtas cīnās Grand Slam pamatturnīrā, un French Open ir pirmais turnīrs, kurā viņš spēlē otro reizi. No pagājušā gada palikušas labas atmiņas par uzvaru pirmajā aplī pār slaveno britu Timu Henmanu, taču progress rangā gada laikā nav sanācis. Pērn Parīzē viņš ieradās, esot 84. vietā, bet tagad Ernests noslēdz pirmā simta astoto desmitu. Izskaidrojums ir vienkāršs – Gulbis sācis spēlēt gandrīz tikai ATP turnīros, un punkti tajos krājas lēnāk nekā līdz tam Challenger sacensībās.
Francijas atklātais čempionāts ir vienīgais, kas sākas svētdienā (pārējie – pirmdienā), un sagadījās tā, ka Gulbim laukumā bija jāiziet jau pirmajā dienā. Mačs ar mazpazīstamo vācieti lielu ažiotāžu neradīja, un spēlētāji tika aicināti uz paša attālākā laukuma (ar 17. kārtas numuru). Ja atceramies pagājušo gadu, pirms mača ar Henmanu Gulbis ilgi neparādījās kortā, par ko bija sašutuši britu žurnālisti. Šoreiz notika pretēji – Ernests jau labu laiciņu gaidīja uz sava krēsla laukuma malā, bet Groila kā nebija, tā nebija. Tikai tad, kad Ernests par to sāka diskusiju ar mača tiesnesi, vācietis iesoļoja pa ieejas vārtiņiem.
Jau pēc dažām izspēlēm varēja saprast, kāpēc Groils vinnēja Nišikori, bet telpās tik viegli piekāpās Juškam. Gulbja pārākums meistarībā bija acīmredzams, taču Groils ir tipisks māla laukumu speciālists, un šie divi komponenti līdzsvarojās. Pirmajā geimā Gulbim nācās atvairīt breikpunktu, taču vēlāk viņš iespēlējās, un ar katru geimu viņa pārsvars kļuva manāmāks. Pēdējos trīs geimus pirmajā setā Gulbis vinnēja uz nulli, un vienreiz viņam izdevās lauzt Groila servi, kas deva uzvaru ar 6–4.
Otrajā setā spēles raksturs nemainījās, un Groils neatrada pretlīdzekļus Gulbja servei un sitieniem no gala līnijas. Otro setu mūsu tenisists uzvarēja sausā – 6–0. Šāds scenārijs turpinājās arī trešā seta sākumā, un Ernests ātri izvirzījās vadībā ar 3–0. Tad pēc vienpadsmit geimu pārtraukuma Groilam izdevās tikt pie punkta, un vācietis sajuta, ka vēl var ieķerties. Kad Ernests bija vadībā ar 4–2, Groils veiksmīgi nospēlēja geimu un tika pie sava otrā breikpunkta (pirmā kopš mača sākuma). Ernests izdarīja visu, lai uzvarētu izspēlē, taču izšķirošais sitiens no labās puses lidoja tīklā. "Tā bija nepiedodama kļūda," vēlāk piekrita Gulbis.
Tas, ka vācietis panāca izlīdzinājumu breiku ziņā, sapurināja mūsu tenisistu, jo viņš negribēja spēlēt ceturto setu. Nākamajā geimā Groils atvairīja vienu breikpunktu un panāca 4–4, tomēr tas izrādījās pēdējais geims, ko viņš guva savā debijas reizē French Open pamatturnīrā. Ernests pārliecinoši uzvarēja savas serves geimā un pie 5–4 panāca 15–40 – tātad divas mačbumbas. Pirmajā no tām bumba Gulbja pusē neparocīgi atlēca no līnijas, bet otrajā pēc labas izspēles Ernests kļūdījās. Brīdi vēlāk Gulbim trešā mačbumba, taču atkal nekā – pēc Groila sitiena bumba trāpa līnijā! Par laimi, brīžos, kad rezultāti bija vienādi, vācietis spēlēja neveiksmīgi, un ar ceturto mačbumbu Gulbim izdevās gūt izšķirošo punktu – pēc laukumā pavadītas pusotras stundas uzvara 6–4, 6–0 un 6–4.
"Pirms mača biju ļoti uztraucies, jo zināju, ka spēlēju labi, taču iepriekš nesanāca uzvarēt. No pirmās līdz pēdējai izspēlei biju maksimāli nokoncentrējies," atzina Gulbis. "Piecu setu mačā pirmais sets ir ļoti svarīgs, un, kad to uzvarēju, radās lielāka pārliecība un viss sāka iet manā labā. Varēja just, ka viņš uztraucas, jo es spēlēju labi. Bet, kad pienāca izšķirīgie punkti, veiksme atkal nebija manā pusē. Nedaudz panervozēju, jo pēdējos mačos svarīgos punktus allaž uzvarēja pretinieks. Iepriekš Groilu pārāk labi nezināju, kaut gan pirms diviem gadiem biju redzējis, kā viņš spēlē Challenger turnīros. Arī treneris [ar Ernestu tagad strādā austriešu speciālists Hains Karls Veters] sen viņu nebija redzējis."
Gulbja pretinieks otrajā kārtā (droši vien trešdien) būs sacensību 7. numurs Džeims Bleiks no ASV. Ņemot vērā, ka vēlākais otrajā aplī pretī bija jāstājas kādam no izliktajiem tenisistiem, šis nav sliktākais variants. Bleiks Roland Garros laukumos spēlē sesto reizi un vēl nekad nav ticis tālāk par trešo apli (trīs no piecām reizēm zaudējis otrajā kārtā). "Jā, ar izlozi šoreiz ir paveicies. Kad ieraudzīju tabulu, sapratu, ka varu zaudēt gan pirmajā aplī, gan iziet kādas četras kārtas. Bleiks, protams, ir labs spēlētājs, bet viņam mīļākais segums ir hard. Ja labi spēlēšu, varu uzvarēt," sprieda Gulbis. Ernests neuzskata – tāpēc, ka Bleiku viņš pazīst labāk, nekā amerikānis mūsu tenisistu, viņam būs kādas priekšrocības. "Pirms gada mani neviens nepazina, bet tagad visi zina, kā es spēlēju. Treneri pat saka, ka otrais gads lielajā apritē ir visgrūtākais."
Pirmajā aplī 28 gadus vecais Bleiks ar 6–4, 6–1 un 7–6 pieveica vācieti Raineru Šutleru – to pašu, ar kuru kopā Gulbis šogad uzvarēja Hjūstonas turnīrā dubultspēlēs. Ernests uz Šutlera palīdzību necer – vai vācietis spēs sniegt kādu vērtīgu padomu, ja pats zaudējis trijos setos?
Gab would remember the "Gulbisland" fiasco last year the RG as-it-happens guy initially said that Ernests is from Estonia, triggering a flood of indignant emails... Well, from Gab and me at least.Herr Greul is about to serve to save the match against Latvian prodigy Ernst Gulbis, whose name means swan (another piece of incredible information I acquired from one of our readers last year).
The importance of being Ernests
Monday, May 26, 2008
By Benjamin Adler
With his angelic features, Latvian Ernests Gulbis is already an endearing character but his story makes him even more so. Just after his 18th birthday, Gulbis became the first player in the history of his small Baltic homeland to enter the top 100, stunning the tennis world on the way. The less time he spends on the tour, the better is suits him however, but once he gets his tall, frail body on the court he is as happy as a teenager – which after all is what he still is.
“I love being on the court but when I’m off it, I need to get away from tennis,” confides the fan of literature and classic films from the 70s and 80s. “I can’t really say that I like life on the circuit but winning a match is an amazing feeling. At my age, what else would give me a feeling like that?”
Training with Niki Pilic
With his relaxed attitude, almost sing-song voice and shy smile, it is easy to see that he is not one to blow his own trumpet. He happily answers our questions with impeccable politeness, demonstrating his good upbringing. There is one question that we are dying to ask him though: how did the grandson of a basketball player, son of an actress and a businessman end up choosing tennis over the two sporting institutions of his country – basketball and hockey?
“I was a very active child and did a lot of sport as a way of burning up my excess energy. I’ve always had good coordination and love basketball and football, but I preferred playing on my own as opposed to as part of a team. I used to knock up a bit with my grandmother, but then my father told me about one of his old school friends who was a coach and so I went to meet him,” explains the winner of last year’s Challenger at Besançon, who has made quite a name for himself on the small tournament circuit.
For 18 months he won no matches at all. “I don’t know why, but I always believed I was destined for great things in tennis.” So he battled on, supported all the way by his parents. At the tender age of 12 he went to stay at the famous Niki Pilic academy in Munich for the first time, the very same place where a certain Novak Djokovic hones his skills.
Four years later, the Croatian guru decided to coach his star pupil full time. “When I first came to the academy he said that he would never coach again. But he believed in my potential and so we started travelling around together.” This tour gave Ernests the idea that he could make tennis his career. His breakthrough came in summer 2007, when he reached the fourth round in the US Open. “My win in New York against Robredo is my fondest memory,” the ambitious yet humble star tells us.
Promenades in Paris
“My success has made tennis more popular in Latvia and I’m happy about that,” he continues. “Davis Cup tickets used to be given away for free, but people still didn’t bother going to see them. Then in September 2007, the attendance leapt to 1,500 for the final home fixture against Monaco. But I still don’t feel like I’ve achieved anything to be proud of. There are a hundred other players like me out there. I don’t plan on staying ranked between 50 and a 100 for the next seven years.”
Having shaken off all the niggling injuries that plagued him during the 2007 season (to his knee, ankle and even teeth) and with new coach Karl Heinz Wetter by his side, Gulbis is hoping to take his game to another level. “I’ve been training harder and better, especially on the physical aspect and I know that will pay off.” Having eliminated Simon Greul in the first round, Gulbis is feeling confident ahead of taking on Blake in the second round.
“I have to admit that when I saw the draw it made me a little nervous because I thought it actually looked quite do-able. That stresses me out a bit at this point in my career,” says Gulbis, who is no doubt afraid of coming away from the tournament frustrated. In the meantime before his clash with Blake, Ernests is getting stuck into a new Japanese novel (“my father recommended it to me”) and walking around Paris (“one of my favourite cities”) in order to take his mind off things – that way he can really enjoy playing his tennis.
The importance of being Ernests
Monday, May 26, 2008
By Benjamin Adler