A matchup that would be worthy of at least a semifinal on the other side of the draw will take place far too early on Thursday in Halle. Tommy Haas and Ernests Gulbis are battling for a place in the quarterfinals.
Tommy Haas and Ernests Gulbis will be facing each other for the fifth time in their careers and for the third time this season when they square off in round two of the Gerry Weber Open on Thursday evening.
The head-to-head series stands at 2-2, including 1-1 in 2013. Gulbis prevailed 6-3, 4-6, 7-6(2) en route to the Delray Beach title before Haas scored some revenge with a 6-4, 6-7(3), 6-1 victory on the clay courts of Munich, also on his way to the title. All four of their previous encounters have gone the maximum distance, including at last year’s U.S. Open where Gulbis stormed back from two sets and a break down in the third to win 3-6, 4-6, 6-4, 7-5, 6-3.
Just as he did in Munich, Haas once again has home-court advantage this time around. The German has surged back up to No. 11 in the world thanks to an awesome 2012 campaign and a stellar 25-10 record this season. Haas earned an opening-round bye this week as Halle’s third seed.
Similarly, Gulbis is emerging from several years of disappointment thanks to a recent spring in his step. The 38th-ranked Latvian improved to 21-8 at the ATP level in 2013 with a 6-4, 3-6, 6-3 triumph over Marcos Baghdatis on Tuesday. In addition to his Delray Beach trophy, highlights for Gulbis this season include a fourth-round finish in Indian Wells and two competitive three-set losses to Rafael Nadal (in Delray Beach and again in Rome).
Gulbis is a slight underdog based on his opponent’s inspired play of late and due to the fact that Haas will have the crowd firmly in his corner. Even though the former world No. 21 has generally fared better on clay and hard courts, he can be dangerous on grass with a huge serve and flat, powerful groundstrokes. At the same time, Haas is a two-time champion of this event and a former Wimbledon semifinalist (2009).
Pick: Haas in 3
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Despite the home crowd behind him, Haas may not have enough to defeat the surging Latvian!!!