Ricky, Courtney, and Emeline take part in the Grandstand’s first roundtable discussion–this one dealing with all things Ernests Gulbis.
Ricky: Thanks, Emeline and Courtney. This should be fun, and it’s always worthwhile to discuss the enigma that is Ernests Gulbis. First off, we need to ponder the simple, unfortunate question: “What’s the deal with Ernie?” He was ranked as high as No. 21 in the world in February of 2011 and now he’s down at No. 136. He had a 17-18 record in 2012, and five of those wins came in lower-level Davis Cup play, so he was really 12-18. So…what’s the deal!?!?
Courtney (The Traveling Fangirl): Well that is the million-dollar question everyone is asking, isn’t it? I think to sum it up, he has been plagued with bad luck. Anytime he starts to gain a little momentum he gets hit with an illness or taken down by an injury. Also, the puzzle pieces of his game both physical and mental have been struggling to fit together. Once he is able to find the right balance of strength on both sides and keep it that way, which I strongly believe he can, he will have consistent success.
Emeline: The deal with Ernests – 1) Lack of consistency in his return game, 2) As always, he over-hits, 3) Astronomical unforced errors, 4) Frequent changing of coaches. From Karl Heinz Watter, he had like four coaches from 2007 until 2012 (average of one to 1.5 years for every coach), and 5) Choking on crucial points.
Ricky: Yes, there are a fair amount of issues at hand when it comes to Gulbis. I’ve been thinking about which are the biggest factors in his slump. Is it motivation (he certainly doesn’t need the money as his dad is one of the richest men in Latvia)? Is it injury/illness? Is it the coaching fluctuation? Or is it just simply that his game is not clean enough (as Emeline said, “astronomical unforced errors”)? While all are problems, I think I have to rank motivation/work ethic at No. 1. He’s made no secret about not liking to practice and he is so talented that he probably thought (past tense, there) he could get by on talent alone. Perhaps he’ll realize that talent alone isn’t going to get the job done in this era.
Courtney: Ernests has never needed money as a factor for motivation, but as an athlete, the competitor in him is still very present. He has said many times in interviews that his lack of desire to practice and his fun off the court have put a damper on things.  However, he is maturing and starting to change his work ethic. In 2009 there was a period where he didn’t have a coach. He thought he could win on sheer talent alone but has now realized that’s not going to work. Right now he is working with Gunther Bresnik and training hard. As he told me in Latvia at Davis Cup, he now practices for multiple hours a day without stops and he knows that is what he needs to get fit.
Emeline: It’s his low ranking that’s becoming a hindrance for him at the moment. Low ranking = top-seeded player in the early rounds. He had good results in 2010 when he was already highly-ranked and therefore got some favorable draws. He won the Delray Beach title, defeated Federer in Rome, and also reached quarterfinals in Madrid, Barcelona, and Cincinnati. About the “Talent is not enough” issue, I think he knows this: He admitted this in one of his later interviews that when he reached Roland Garros QF in 2008, he was operating mainly from talent. Nothing more.
Ricky: Interesting stuff. Perhaps the fact that he went back to the Challenger circuit in the fall of this season shows that he is willing to put in the hard yards. He used to say that he was never going to play Challengers. I mean, he didn’t really have any choice due to his ranking, but still…. On that note, he is not playing in Australia next month and will instead play a Challenger in Heilbronn, Germany. What do you think about that decision? Personally (and I think I speak for all tennis fans here), I always want to see talented players and players who are good for the sport in the biggest tournaments. But the chances of Gulbis even getting through AO qualifying were slim. If he is going to chase points, which he needs to do, better to do it somewhere where he can win a lot of matches.
Emeline: I think it is a wise decision that he’s skipping Australian Open. As Ricky said, he has a slim chance of getting through qualifying.
Courtney: I think his plan to extend his offseason training and skip the Australian Open is a wise choice. His ranking is nowhere near ideal and doesn’t express his true level of talent. He did talk about not wanting to play Challengers but it’s the best place for him to improve his ranking for the big tournaments. He started to play really well towards the end of this year. I thought he had the potential of going all the way at the Orleans Challenger but unfortunately a knee injury took that chance away.
Ricky: Maybe this will give him more time to work on actual tennis tactics, too. We all know that in general he needs to continue working hard, but what are some specific keys other than getting in better shape, putting in the blood, sweat, and tears on the practice court? What do you think about that forehand? That is one weird-looking shot. Obviously he has huge serve, a big but inconsistent forehand, and a solid but not really dangerous backhand. What are the on-court keys for him in 2013?
Courtney: I don’t really know what happened with his forehand. It’s great when it works but seems to have a temperament all on it’s on. Also, he has never been comfortable coming to net. Although he has improved, he can still work on his confidence there.
Ricky: Gulbis has all the shots, there’s no doubt about that. I think the key is for him is to establish a second option, because up to this point he has been too one-dimensional. He is a ball-basher, plain and simple. In this day and age that is not going to work. The defense at the top of the game is too good. Guys like Djokovic and Nadal (and many others), can handle ball-bashing like it’s child’s play and counter-punch until the ball-basher can bash no more. Gulbis does have change-of-pace ability, he just doesn’t use it. He needs to showcase his entire arsenal as opposed to just blasting serves and forehands. Maybe he needs to build up confidence before he has the belief necessary to use that arsenal?
Emeline: I totally agree with Ricky. He needs variety. He’s got to employ more of the counter-punch strategy: to use slice, underspin and/or topspin. His drop-shots are tricky but have to be used sparingly and timely. The forehand, strange as it looks, should stay. That’s his nuclear option. Another thing is footwork. No fleet of foot. Gulbis does this scurrying, scuttling sort of movement when chasing the ball, so when he gets there, he has no time to find his center, his balance.
Ricky: Hopefully his new coach can help him improve in those areas and play smarter, greater-margin-for-error tennis. Courtney, you mentioned Bresnik earlier. Can you shed any light on Bresnik and what he might bring to the table for Gulbis?
Courtney: Ernests visited him at his academy in Austria after hearing good things about him around the tour. They started working together right before Roland Garros and Ernests seems pleased with their collaboration. From what Ernests has told me, Bresnik pushes him to the maximum, which is good. Bresnik also works with young up and comer, Dominic Thiem.
Ernests also has physiotherapist, Michal Novotny, in his corner. Novotny previously worked for the ATP from 2001 to 2010, at which point he started working with Ernests. He has a clinic in Tenerife, where many players have spent their time. I know some fans have expressed interest in the different things Novotny does and there are programs explained on his websites where you can get more information. One of the programs often mentioned in the V.I.T. (Very Intensive Program) which is used to help a player return from injury. Gulbis, Igor Andreev, Ana Ivanovic , and Nikolay Davydenko are listed on his site as players who have been a part of this program. Also listed is the P.A.G (Annual Global Program), which seems to be personalized exercise guide that is specific to their needs that can help prevent injury and improve performance. A lot of familiar tennis names such as Nadal and Sharapova have been a part of it. Novotny certainly brings a lot of knowledge and professionalism to the team. He clearly has a great relationship with Ernests and the players on tour.
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Ricky: Great stuff, Courtney. Alright, folks, last topic before ending with more “fun” conversation…. Gulbis is one of the most polarizing players on tour, it seems to me. He’s no Tim Tebow, but he does cover both ends of the spectrum. Fans either have a love relationship, a hate relationship, or a love-hate relationship with Gulbis. The love, I guess, comes from his talent and his easy-going nature and humor. He’s like a baby Marat Safin…except without two Grand Slams. The hate, I guess, comes from the fact that many consider him to be a waste of talent and a spoiled rich kid. What do you two think about this? Is the “hate” warranted?
Emeline: It depends. I mean, if you take the perspective of Ivanovic ,who when she was young could only train on days when Serbia wasn’t being shelled or bombed, then you look at Gulbis as someone who’s just wasting a tennis career away, one wild forehand after the other. Other than that, I don’t see “hate” as an appropriate emotion. It’s more of a head-shaking, resigned type of pity. Also, let’s not forget that Gulbis isn’t the only one struggling badly (read: Fernando Verdasco).
Courtney: Yes, Ernests has had some major inconsistencies in career, but I’ve always enjoyed watching him. His former coach Hernan Gumy said something in an interview that I will never forget. “Ernests is entertaining whether he is winning or whether he’s pissed!” I thought that was a brilliant statement! He either captivates you by his game or steals your heart while cussing out the umpire in a humorous and witty fashion. Never once have I seen Ernests as just a waste of talent. So far he has won two singles titles and two doubles titles. He is still young. It might take him more time to mature than other players, but in this sport things can change so quickly. I’ve always been a positive person so it’s hard for me to agree with the hate or frustration that’s directed at him. I understand their frustrations but I’ve never felt that myself.
Ricky: Let’s see just how positive Courtney is, because it’s time to predict how Gulbis will fare in 2013. What will his best Grand-Slam result be? How soon will he make it back to the Top 100? Or will he not make it back to the Top 100? Heck, if you have the guts, I want to see an exact 2013 year-end ranking prediction! I’m not optimistic. It’s a long road back when you start a year unable to get into most tournaments. He will be lucky to make it back inside the Top 100 or win any main-draw matches at a major.
Courtney: Wow, Ricky! You really do want to test me, don’t you? Predicting anything in this sport is difficult and I’m not a betting sort of gal. I know he will be able to improve his ranking this year with his decision to play Challengers. I’ll say that by the end of next year his ranking will improve to the top 40 and he will have at least one title under his belt. Grand Slams are tricky so I’m not even touching that one!
Emeline: It’s hard to predict when you’re a fan. There’s always the danger of becoming subjective, thus rendering us dreamy-eyed and hopeful. But I’ll try anyway. Given his decision to remain in Europe early this year, I think he’ll do well and start gaining momentum by middle of this year, say maybe in Serbia, Munich, or Estoril. I am also looking forward to the Asian swing, late in 2013. I am not hopeful in the Grand Slams. When he ranked his highest at No. 21, Gulbis already silenced a lot of criticisms regarding his “being just a load of talent and potential.” He did it once; he can climb back up again, given the right motivation and environment.
Ricky: Alright, it’s the Holiday season; let’s end on another cheerful note. Favorite Gulbis moment. Shoot.
Courtney: The best match I’ve seen Ernests play has to be his win against Federer in Rome 2010. If I were to ever have a heart attack during a match, that would’ve been it. He had a great tournament and it was so rewarding to see him beat a guy like Federer. If I remember correctly, he had six match points in the end. Emotions were high and the reward was sweet…. In general my favorite moments of Ernests are his interviews. He has great comedic timing and you just never know what will come out of that man’s mouth.
Emeline: Favorite Gulbis moment — 2008 Queen’s Club, while on-court against Andy Murray. “Let’s go!” Karl-Heinz Watter called out while clapping. “Where?” Gulbis retorded.
Ricky: Hilarious. My favorite moment by far (even by far over the 2009 French Open) was a rare occasion when Gulbis was all business. In a Grandstand night match, third round of the 2007 U.S. Open, he completely destroyed Tommy Robredo (then No. 8 in the world) 6-1, 6-3, 6-2 in one hour and 29 minutes. I saw every point from the front row. It was the most shocking display of tennis I will ever see, because back then I didn’t follow tennis quite as religiously as I do now, so I had only barely heard of Gulbis even though he was ranked a decent 88th in the world. I may see a better performance at some point in the future, but I will never see one that leaves me in that kind of utterly shocked state.
Your expectations for Djokovic and Gulbis in French Open? Trembling heart?