(18) Ernests Gulbis vs. (4) Roger Federer
Jared:Gulbis entered Roland Garros with the worst record in Grand Slams (20-26) of any player in the top 30. Since he reached the 2008 quarterfinals in Paris, he has gone 12-21, but with a win on Sunday he could put the perfect bookend on this chapter of his career with another quarterfinal appearance. And his opponent is the polar opposite of him. Federer is the most accomplished male tennis player in slam history and was in cruise control for the most part in his first three matches. Gulbis will be Federer’s first real test, but he won’t be able to defeat his “superb image of a Swiss gentleman.” Federer 7-6, 5-7, 6-3, 6-4.
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Ricky: Berdych has won four of their previous six encounters, a somewhat modest record that in no way tells the true story of the history between these two. In just six matches against the 6’10” American, Berdych has generated an incredible 52 break chances and has broken serve a hard-to-believe 21 times. The Czech is not exactly considered one of the best returners in tennis, but nobody reads the Isner serve like he does. But this won’t be a rout, because Berdych has been far from dominant so far and Isner conserved energy by finishing off both Mikhail Kukushkin and Tommy Robredo prior to a fifth set. Berdych 7-6, 6-7, 6-4, 7-6.
Jared: Berdych and Isner may combine for more than 13 feet in height, but when it comes to success at Roland Garros, these two combined for just a 6-6 record over the past three installments of the event with only one appearance in the second week. Still, when this match concludes, one of them will be a FO quarterfinalist. Berdych leads the head-to-head series 4-2, and in those six matches there have been a total of 32 breaks of serve. Berdych has had more success than any player on tour returning the Isner serve. If the No. 1 American is to have a chance, he will have to keep his 65-game unbroken streak alive deep into this round of 16 match. Berdych 6-3, 6-7, 6-4, 7-5.
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Why does berdych read Isner’s so well according to the stats? I consider his return of serve to be mediocre.
I am going with Fed in four sets over Gulbis.
Berdy over Isner in four sets.
I am going with Gulbis in 4 and Isner in 4 as well.
I have a game plan” says No. 18 seed #Gulbis, who faces #Federer today. PREVIEW: http://bit.ly/RQephK #RG14 pic.twitter.com/ck0rSjxhl6
http://www.rolandgarros.com/en_FR/news/articles/2014-05-31/201405311401563639539.html
Don’t talk Gulbis..go and do it on court
Berdych has no right to win wearing that hideous shirt but in spite of that I’m going with the flow.
Berdych in 5
Please may I change my vote to Berdych in 4?
I’ve just seen the stats!
I agree. That shirt has nothing going for it at all.
^^^^^At this rate he might even do it in straights…………….Berdy is on fire
Berdy is very impressive today. He’s certainly got a great game but sometimes he doesn’t back himself resulting in a lot of errors. I hope he makes it to the final.
^^^I wonder why you say that 😉
You got it. 🙂
I hope Berdy really reaches another slam final too. He deserves it. Hes been in Top 7-8 for like 3 years now and been I guess to just 1 slam final (2010 Wimby). Yes he has to beat Federer and Djokovic to get to the final , tough ask but hope he does it.
I think he can beat Fed if he stays consistent but beating Djokovic is another thing all together for him
Sanju (at 11:04 am);
You hope too far ahead. I should reach the final now in Paris.
Correction: … HE should reach…
@Sanju, That way Ferru too should be in the final, no. A more deserving candidate than Berdych!
First Roger now Big Berd lol.
Can you believe it, Berdy is out-acing Isner.
Gulbis has just given a great interview in ITV. He says what he thinks, I like that. He said the post match pressers are a waste of time because they ask things like how you feel after winning or losing.
Asked about being a spoilt little rich kid, he said his first coach Nikki Pilic made him rough it in economy class when he first started but he is lucky that his parents can afford to pay his way in tennis because there is no help for that from the Latvian govt. and he envy’s players who are funded by their governments. He said he can’t understand why Britain cannot produce good players with all the help they get.
—there is no help for that from the Latvian govt. and he envy’s players who are funded by their governments—
Interesting, in WHICH countries professional tennis players are funded by their governments?
I think he meant Federations.
The problem for Berdych is, when faces player like Nadal or Djokovic, their superior defensive skills makes him play a lot of extra shots, resulting in lot of unforced errors. Also, both Nadal abd Djokovic can turn defence into offence very easily, which hurs him a lot on critical points.
netrush,
Berdych defeated Djoko in Rome last year.
Verdasco literally dismantled Gasquet. Todays matches are getting over really quick compared to yesterday
Well clearly the ghastly shirt brought him good luck. But H&M must be coughing up big bucks for his team to be wearing them when they don’t have to.
ed251137 (at 11:13 am),
Berdych announced on his FB page: ” I am a man enough to wear this.. .”
https://www.facebook.com/tomasberdych/photos/a.578256722238114.1073741828.110484985681959/722559031141215/?type=1&theater
I remember that riposte. Very Berdy!!
Augusta, I am talking about the consistency of events. Berdych may win a match once in a blue moon and will lose a lion’s share of his matches against these two. Hence the H2H:
Nadal-Berdych: 18-3
Djoker-Berdych: 15-2
netrush,
Yes, you are correct and make some great points.
Augusta, I am talking about the consistency of events. Berdych may win a match once in a blue moon, but will lose a lion’s share of his matches against these two. Hence the H2H:
Nadal-Berdych: 18-3
Djoker-Berdych: 15-2
COME ON muzz ! You have to win this…
Murray’s serve has gone AWOL. He’s living dangerously.
Muzza without a serve is like Rafa without a serve………..trouble.
Gulbis up a break on Fed.
Vamos Fed!
Fed breaks back, Vamos!
C’mon Fed, shut the Latvian ponce up! This is more than a tennis match: this about civilization as we know it. You are all that stands between Gulbis-ism and well………whatever.
😉
Why are you supporting Fed RITB? You want the gap between 17 and 13 to widen ? 🙂 Just asking, you can support him.
I am supporting Gulbis and am not hiding it 🙂
@Sanju, Look at the draw! Fed’s the only one who can give Novak something to think about, the rest are headcases……….hot one day, cold the next.
Andy forgot to bring his wits with him. He’s being out-thought by Kohlbi.
GSM Muzza.
Wheww
Messy but he did it.
You couldn’t buy that workout Murray has just had. Slow down Andy,, you are in Rafa’s half of the draw.
I’ve posted a great video on Rafa’s thread.
Conditions are a little heavier than yesterday. Advantage Gulbis.
Fed fighting out there, good to see…………..
RT @ChiaraGamTWI : “Gulbis to his box:”Federer doesnt nothing.It’s only me””
#Gulbis
Hehehe!
RT @linzsports : “Kohli, we told you not to go to Djokovic’s overhead classes.”
Another break for Fed, now serve it out……………
…and Fed gets broken serving for the 2nd set…
Gulbis gets 2 break points, and smashes his racquet with his foot! LOL! Good match though.
Federer drops the 2nd set, that’s GSM Gulbis. I don’t think Fed has the stamina to go the distance unless Gulbis’s mind unravels……..
He can go distance against lesser ranked players..he cant against the top 5-7
I doubt Fed’s endurance now, @Sanju, and his will to fight. Fed was never one to fight to the last point, unlike Rafa. Once he sees this slipping from him he will go quietly………….
Roger is very edgy. He’s not comfortable in this match at all.
Hawkeye: Mirka has taken up chewing gum again 😉
Does Mirka smoke or something? Holy cow, the only ones I know IRL who chew that much gum smoke too.(very illogical connection but still…)
Oh dear. Gulbis has got his teeth into this match now.
The subject is off limits. Any further discussion will almost certainly be moderated.
C’mon Roger, you are in the queue to take Noe out. I only want Nole to lose as many points as possible not because I don’t think Rafa can beat him if they both make the final.
Exactly! This is why I have him losing already….
RT @jon_wertheim: “…and even if Federer somehow pulls this out, how well can he recover from a five-setter on clay?”
Fed is not going to have any chance in hell to beat Novak..esp after going to 4 n 5 setters in his 3rd and 4th round..His match against Berdy wont be that straightforward either..
I think Tsonga and Raonic can take it to Novak more than Fed can as of now given Feds long play
My reason for supporting Gulbis is straightforward: I want Rafa to get the double career slam before Fed gets it.
@Sanju, you are contradicting yourself. You are saying Fed won’t beat Novak and then say you do not want him getting a 2nd career Slam before Rafa. How can he get a second career Slam if he does not beat Novak?
How am I contradicting? I am not.
Rafa has not got his 2nd career slam yet right..So once Rafa gets his AO, Fed can get his FO if he wishes to, not this year or not till Rafa gets his 2nd AO first
If this goes to 5 which I see it going now, Fed will win..experience will come into play
I think Fed can win this in 5. And I also want him to beat Nole, or at least go the distance. Sanju: do you really think Fed can win RG again? I don’t. I see him making the final and losing gracefully to Rafa, but not winning.
What if Rafa is not standing at the other end? Why wait for Rafa to beat him:-)
Also folks he has no chance against Nole now after these long matches. Had he finished his matches quickly maybe Yes but now No
Well I *always* assume Rafa is at the other end! Lol.
Mind games:
https://twitter.com/ESPNTennis/status/473107756225163264/photo/1
Told Fed does not want to win this, how quick was that break for Gulbis? Watch Fed throw this match here in the 4th set…………
5th set it is……………..
Fed fav now- experience and on top of it lower back issues for Gulbis
However Gulbis has softened Fed a lot for Berdy and Nole
RT @NeilHarmanTimes: “Into a fifth go Gulbis and Federer. Three hours, six minutes on the board. ‘Roger Roger,’ sings the crowd. Can’t hear any ‘Ernests'”
For once, I am with the Parisians…………..
Mr. Neil! The legion of the Federazzi sang, not the crowd!
My guess is Ernest implodes and loses the set badly.
My guess is Fed is too old to hang with young folk……..
Yup… Looks like I spoke too soon.
Please God, don’t tell me Gulbis is 2 games from a Slam quarterfinal…………
2 points baby! You can do it Ernie!
Yes Yes Yes.. Yahooooooooooo..Come on Gulbis
w00t!!!! Too bad Isner lost….
Oh no.
Hmmmmm…not too happy with this result. Ok Tsonga: do the deed. Don’t disappoint.
So, the legion of the Federazzi is out of picture. Not bad.
Yes thank God. I am not talking of the nice ones but he has too many Rafa hater fans which I abhor. Atleast they will shut up now.
Can gulbis beat berdych?
^^Yes he can, but he won’t.
No he will not and I hope he does not.
But I think Gulbis maybe a better headcase than Berdy when it comes to Novak 🙂
Not Roger Federer @PseudoFed · 1m
I can now start My Wimbledon preparations a week before everyone else #sneaky
Gulbis did not just talk but did it this time. For all his unexplored potential, he atleast will have something good and big to boast about
Sanju (at 3:17 pm),
Did you try to watch the match? (I am just curious).
I would have watched, cant as the cable/Digital operator I have does not have Neo Sports-the channel that is broadcasting it in India.
The streaming is so slow and freezes again and again, I lost patience
Gulbis is 1-4 against Novak @Sanju, his only win coming in 2009. He is not going to trouble Djokovic, or would you rather Djokovic got his 1st career Slam??
I would have preferred Fed to win because he has a better chance of upsetting Novak.
Father time:
https://twitter.com/bbctennis/status/473121024989753344/photo/1
Way to go Ern! Seriously Roger needs to go and spend some time with his family. Or prepare for the grass season. Or both. Finally Ern has a big win in his career.
Expected this upset, wished for it. Got it
Will Tsonga oblige also please? Please don’t forget you had 5 match points against Novak in 2012 and you blew it up. You have to give that back and you have the crowd all for you to support you
Fed had his chances, but Gulbis didn’t lose focus. Am I the only one predicting a Gulbis win (didn’t really root for Gulbis though)?
I had a thought from morning it will happen but did not expect it in 5. Thought he has to do it in 4. When it went to 5, gave advantage to Fed
ESPNTennis @ESPNTennis · 5m
Just the third time in past 40 Majors, Federer fails to reach QFs. It’s the third time he’s failed to do so in his last four Slams. #RG14
2009
Fed lost a heartbreaker in AO 2009 to Rafa and missed getting his 14th slam
Fed won Madrid 2009 beating a physically hampered Rafa.
Rafa lost on Sunday in RG 2009 to Robin Soderling
Fed won RG 2009 and got his 14th slam and also Wimby on the way.
2014
Rafa lost a heartbreaker in AO 2014 and missed getting his 14th slam
Rafa won Madrid 2009 beating a physically hampered Kei.
Fed lost on Sunday in RG 2014 to Gulbis
And ???
??? is Fill in the blanks
Great fun sanju but it doesn’t mean anything in reality. Over on TW, after the twin boys were born, someone said he would win Madrid, RG and Wimbledon just as he did in 2009 when his girl twins were born.
Yes I read that too but I did not pay heed to that. His twin girls were born in 2009 after he won his 14th/15th. Here his twin boys were born before 🙂
I don’t know why but I am hoping for a Rafa win in French and Wimby. God has to be kind to him after all the injuries and bad luck he has had to go through. JUst the bad back things makes me just wary as without his serve in place, his game can suffer against top players and returners
2009
Rafa looked shakey after an exhausting Madrid the tournament before coming to Paris as 4-time champ.
Lost to Soderling.
2014
Rafa looked shakey after an exhausting Rome the tournament before coming to Paris as 4-time champ.
I don’t do coincidence/superstitions.
Wrong. Rafa did not look shaky at all in 2009 before RG. I clearly remember he was on a roll. On the other hand Fed was all shaky after AO 2009 right till Madrid, remember all the racket breaking etc in IW/Miami?
Rafa won AO, IW, MC, Barcelona, Rome and reached Madrid final. His knees all gave up in middle of RG, they were not talked much before RG
If you don’t think a 4 hour 3 set match in the middle of a Masters 1000 is not reason to be concerned so be it. I was very concerned. Plus it’s weird that you compare the Aussie finals. Roger actually got to a 5th set and choked. Rafa lost against Stan in the warm-up. He had no chance after hurting his back. I guess the disappointment level is comparable.
The outcome matters not circumstances in which final was lost . Rafa was not shaky at all before Madrid in 2009 . Was he in AO, IW, MC, Barcelona, Rome etc which he won ? What makes you say he was shaky if he won 5 titles and dominated the tour.
Madrid we all know he had a 4 hour slugfest with Novak but did anyone know of knee issues then. He lost match against Roger because he had to play right the day after.
Just like Roger was shaky after AO 2009 right till RG, so is Rafa this year
Anyways I am drawing parallels just maybe in the hope and anticipation of similar thing to happen to Rafa like it happened to Roger 🙂
Sanju (at 3.34pm)
My conclusion: Gulbis, who defeated Fed, will reach the final!
I hope he does :-)..But that is asking too much..defeating Fed, Berdy and Novak on the way..asking too much 🙂
He, very well, can.
That^^^ would be an awesome final!!
Well played Gulbiz, interesting drop shots and amazing serves.
the way he saved the second set was amazing, fed couldn’t recover from that.
Overall good match and good result
At least Nole will not have to deal with Fed’s GS curse if he manages to reach the final.
Let’s see if he Gulbis can get over the Fed curse and win the next match!
Oh yeah forgot that curse 🙂 So very right..Oh noo (:-
I don’t believe in curses.
Beyond The Baseline @SI_BTBaseline · 1m
Federer had game points for a 2 sets to love lead, blew them, then went completely flat after Gulbis’ 4th set MTO. #RG14
That was shocker that he could not close 2nd set when he was up 5 3
That was not a shocker, it was brilliance from gulbiz.
I really enjoyed his anticipation and the pass that he made.
On a lighter side, at least Fed didn’t lose to Berdych. Can’t stand Fed’s losses to TBerd!
abhirf@:June 1, 2014 at 3:42 pm
I thought you were a tennis fan!
Yeah.. And Fed fan too! Other than that Berdych seems a bit cold against Fed!
Abhi..I just checked..The Fed curse is active right from 2012 AO..anyone who has beaten him has lost the next match
Djoko is taking Tsonga to the cleaners.
5 0 up 🙂
^^You want Djoko to win?
No def not but cant help laugh at the scoreline and the resistance Tsonga is offering 🙂
It’s 2am here, I don’t think it’s worth staying up for the rest of djokovic/Tsonga…..
Where do u reside tj
Raonic through. I am sure he will give Djokovic a bit more of a work-out than this joke Tsonga
Or maybe upset him too. You never know. He really took it to him in Rome
I have hopes from Raonis to def take it to Djokovic, if not beat him atleast take it to 4 or 5. Investment in Ljujibic is the best thing that has happened to Raonic
RT @ESPNTennis: “In just 27 minutes, Djokovic takes the first set 61 over Tsonga. #RG14 #ESPNTennis”
What a joke……….
@abhirf
I am Australian. Although my parents are srilankan(so that’s my background)
Ben Rothenberg @BenRothenberg · 10m
No time for Roger Federer yet in press—hearing he’s being delayed by drug testers. #RG14
Probably too busy crying.
haha!
https://twitter.com/ESPNTennis/status/473136090308964352/photo/1
Even when Rafa is winning easily it’s far more interesting than this match.
I’m glad I’m not French, not a Tsonga fan, and not at RG witnessing this match.
I remarked recently that Tsonga is one of the few Frenchmen who does not fall apart at RG and is capable of catching fire. Apparently his team forgot to light the fire.
I never gave him a chance. In fact he surprised me by getting this far…..
I have a feeling that Tsonga doesn’t prepare for his matches. He appears far too casual. All the French don’t seem to have the fight in them.
Nor did I in truth but I thought he might at least make a match of it. I’ve never cared for his Joe Wilful brand of tennis or understood why he is such a crowd pleaser.
Rafa 2nd PC tomorrow.
I’ve had enough of this nonsense, see ya tomorrow when we cheer on a real match!
Snap. I’m out of here too.
Raonic giving Novak a tough match in a best two out of three set match, is very different from playing a best three out of five set match. I don’t know if Raonic can give him trouble in that kind of match.
http://www.atpworldtour.com/Media/Video-Landing.aspx?/*/Tennis/Media/Videos/Uploaded/2014/6/1/Roland%20Garros%202014%20Sunday%20Interview%20Lajovic
Nadals 4th round opponent taking tips/advise from Novak
I am not quaking in my boots after watching that interview. What Novak probably told him is just how hard it is to try to take on Rafa at RG. This guy won’t have any pressure, so he can just try to go for it. But hanging with Rafa in a best three out of five set match at RG is probably the toughest task in tennis.
From the Twitter World.
RT Ricky Dimon @…. “if Gulbis wins in 4 after the medical timeout, the hate he incurred from the press conference will pale in comparison to this…”
So, the hate the legion of the Federazzi always spread everywhere is created by pro-Fed journos!!! Good to know!
he didn’t win in 4 tho
Mon dieu!! Tsonga! What the what!??? Glad I didn’t watch. Brutal score line. At least Muguruza won.
I saw the replay of the Fed/Gulbis match. At least what they decided to show us. They skipped parts of it. However, I did notice that when Fed left the court after he lost, the crowd gave him a standing ovation. The tennis channel commentators even pointed it out. So they do love the Fed there.
They did flashback to show the part where Gulbis had to go off court for treatment and then came bac to boos from the crowd. But he was waving his arms and kind of playing along with them. I am surprised that Gulbis was able to keep it together in a five set match. He was mentally strong and just kept playing his game. I didn’t think he had it in him at this point in his career. The guy has the talent to take out any player on a given day, but just hasn’t seemed motivated to work hard, practice, get physically and mentally fit enough and just make the effort to be able to play well consistently. Is he now ready to go even deeper here? I don’t know.
That MTO was blatant gamesmanship right down to leaving the court so we didn’t see what ‘treatment’ was involved. Still Federer is losing his touch if he let that get to him.
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He wallows in his reputation for ‘bad boy’ behaviour. What started as arrogant exhibitionism has become an irritating affectation.
On the tennis channel they were kind of debating whether the MTO was for real. It was kind of mixed, with nobody really wanting to come right out and say that it was fake. I think Gulbis kind of revels in taunting the crowd. He seems to get a kick out of it.
I saw some of his presser after the match and he spoke about how he had to stay focused and play at a high level and not let the crowd get to him. Then he said that getting the early break in that fifth set was important because it took the crowd out of it. He said that if it stayed tight with no breaks, then the crowd could have been a factor. So he was well aware that they were not on his side!
The bottom line is that Gulbis is a spoiled rich brat. I don’t praise him for being supposedly “honest” because I think he says thing because he can get away with it. For a guy who has thrown away his considerable natural gifts, he seems to have quite the ego. If I were him, I would be embarrassed at wasting my talent and ability.
If he is serious about reaching the top 10 he needs to clean up his act ASAP.
He could start by embracing the concept of good sportsmanship. And at least TRY to conceal his total contempt for opponents, court officials and spectators.
One commentator on the tennis channel said that if you have a hamstring or hip problem then you would have to go off court to have it treated. But others were skeptical. I didn’t see it live and it’s hard to judge when you just have a few moments replayed without seeing it in context. I understand that Fed had the momentum at that time.
I just don’t see Gulbis cleaning up his act. I read all of his comments and it’s clear that he doesn’t like playing by the rules. He also think it’s boring to be polite and a good sportsman. That’s too bad. He’s had everything handed to him on a silver platter, doesn’t know what it means to work for something and make sacrifices. I don’t think this leopard will change his spots. However, I do agree that if he is serious about making the top ten, then he should clean up his act.
Growing up that privileged has not helped Gulbis once he reached the higher echelons of tennis, On the contrary, in his case. Now that he has been working hard since 2012 to do a lot if possible with his abilities I try to look at him with new eyes, not the way I did in the past. I have no idea about that MTO so take his words at face value.
As Gulbis has risen in the rankings, I’ve been paying more attention to his matches and watching more of them, or at least parts of them. I’ve also been paying more attention to his interviews. I’m not a Gulbis fan at all, but I listened to his explanation of his MTO that he gave during his press conference and it seems reasonable. I’m willing to take his explanation at face value. Here’s the part of his presser where he talks about the MTO.
http://youtu.be/veXf4bL4fL4
There is now a new thread for the discussion on the Gulbis MTO
nativenewyorker7@June 1, 2014 at 10:54 pm
—Gulbis had to go off court for treatment and then came bac to boos from the crowd—
It’s the traditional behavior of the legion of the Federazzi. I haven’t heard that they have booed when Fed has left the court for treatment.
And of course pro-Fed commentators don’t recall Fed’s MTOs. And of course legionaries of the Federazzi (plus pro-Fed commentators) have never said that Fed’s MTOs have been blatant gamesmanship.
https://twitter.com/augustazeight/status/473364243858096128/photo/1
Please can @Petko be in the press pool at the next Gulbis presser!
https://twitter.com/BlairHenley/status/473464755941015552/photo/1
Preach it Petko!!!
#Vamos!!!