Coach Gunther Bresnik will have another busy day with both Ernests Gulbis and Dominic Thiem in action on Wednesday in Nice. They are set for respective meetings with Martin Klizan and Gilles Simon.
Martin Klizan vs. (2) Ernests Gulbis
Gulbis will kick off his campaign at the Open de Nice Cote d’Azur on Wednesday afternoon. The second-seeded Latvian is enjoying his most consistent season on tour even though it has featured the inevitable hiccup every now and then. Results include a title in Marseille, semifinal finishes in Rotterdam and Barcelona, and quarterfinal showings in Doha, Acapulco, Indian Wells, and Madrid. Gulbis is 23-10 for the season and up to No. 19 in the world.
Up first for Gulbis in Nice is Klizan, whom he has never faced. Klizan is an awesome 14-3 at the ATP level this year with a recent clay-court title in Munich as a qualifier. The 62nd-ranked Slovak also reached the Australian Open third round as a lucky loser. His heavy topspin forehand can be tricky to deal with on clay and it is likely to trouble the easily-frustrated Gulbis. While the favorite has fared well at small events in the past, he may lose interest with Roland Garros on the horizon. This is a good opportunity for an in-form Klizan.
Pick: Klizan in 3
[polldaddy poll=8064882]
(4) Gilles Simon vs. Dominic Thiem
Simon and Thiem will be going head-to-head for the second time in their careers on Wednesday. They squared off earlier this season on the hard courts of Indian Wells, where Thiem prevailed 7-6(5), 6-2. The 20-year-old Austrian has surged up the rankings to a career-high mark of 58th in the world thanks to 10 of his 16 career ATP-level wins coming this season. Thiem survived Steve Johnson 3-6, 7-6(5), 7-5 after the American served for the match in both the second and third sets.
At the other end of the spectrum in 2014 is Simon, who is a horrendous 7-11. The 30th-ranked Frenchman is at least showing signs of life with no opening losses in his last three events after previously losing four such matches in a row. Simon turned in an impressive Rome performance against Rafael Nadal before succumbing 7-6(1), 6-7(4), 6-2 in more than three hours. This week’s No. 4 seed should finally have some confidence and playing at home in France should only help. He should be able defend better on clay against Thiem than he did in Indian Wells and the youngster’s previous match against Johnson may catch up with him.
Pick: Simon in 3
[polldaddy poll=8064880]
who you got and scoreline?
Gulbis (with Ernie reading Tolstoy during change-overs!)
http://tennis.si.com/2014/05/20/ernests-gulbis-interview/
Thiem, demolition derby……..
I think that reading literature and going to the theatre is the influence of Erni’s family. I have already written that Erni comes from a family of actors. He was born to an acting mother and his maternal grandfather (Uldis Pucitis) was a popular actor and film director.
Ernest Gulbis’s grandpa Uldis Pucitis (in a movie):
https://twitter.com/augustazeight/status/469112615697129472/photo/1
A clip from a movie in Latvian language:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XTL-EVAPE4o
He was obviously encouraged to be a show-off when he was young.
I’m referring to Ernie, not his grandfather.
Vamos Earnests (Earns to some).!!!!!
Ernie in two.
Simon Thiem is a coinflip so I’ll go against Ricky and pick Thiem.
#ComonThiem
Gulbis 6:3 4:6 6:4
Simon 6:7 6:3 6:7
^^Oh my, Mystic Meg in the house!
KLIZAN!
GULBIS!
THIRD SET!
Gulbis up a break in the third
which means Klizan is in control
BREAK GULBIS!
#(NID)
Klizan will win if he holds here
Gulbis with 2 breaks. Klizan has him right where he wants him.
DOUBLE BREAK GULBIS.
How much control does KLIZAN need?
not a good pick by me
#ThreeSetsTho
#MoralVictory
Oh &*%$ (expletive deleted) Klizan just took the first set…………
C’mon Ernie, remember who’s always the best player on court, eh??
Einstein, sorry, Ernie back in the da house………….!!
bakery?
Nice breadstick served by Earns to win the match. Nice. Real Nice.
#CongratulationsToMeeeeeeeee
#BakersDozen
#RITBsBagel
Fireworks at the end
The Overrule @theoverrule · 1m
Klizan #Seething with Gulbis at the end saying “I thought you changed, but you didn’t at all.” Not sure what prompted that though.
Who did Klingon, sorry, Klizan think was across the net, Laura Ingalls? Pfft………..
The importance of being Ernests…..
#NID
Or Earns for some.
#FlurriesInHell
haven’t hear that one before!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ssBUir2LG-U
pfft. three sets is just your way of saying it is too close to call, no?
#Fence