Farmers Classic Wrap-Up

Written by: Staff on 1st August 2011

Farmers Classic Wrap-Up

July 22, 2011: Washington Nationals Jason Werth during the game against the Los Angeles Dodgers at Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles,CA. |

The 22-year-old son of a wealthy Latvian investment banker put it all together over the past six days to officially end his personal losing streak and pronounce to the rest of the singles field at this year’s final Grand Slam that he is not one to be overlooked.

The self-described partying and hard-serving Ernests Gulbis came back in convincing fashion to upset top-seeded American Mardy Fish and will have his name engraved like the 84 other past champions on the perpetual trophy he was awarded after his 5-7, 6-4, 6-4 victory to win the singles title Sunday on a gorgeous sun-splashed day at the $619,500 Los Angeles Farmers Classic played at the Los Angeles Tennis Center on the UCLA campus in Westwood.

It was the second career ATP tour title for Gulbis, who earlier in the week told an Internet reporter of his penchant for staying out and clubbing all night (although not when he’s playing a tournament). Hollywood Blvd, you’ve been officially warned as the curtain was lowered on the Farmers Tennis Classic.

With the win in the 2-hour, 43-minute final, Gulbis ends a five-match losing streak and will pocket the $113,000 first-place check. He also moves from No. 84 to No. 57 in the world rankings with his first victory since winning at Delray Beach last year.

The doubles final was equally as entertaining and won by a Bahamian-Belgium team led by 39-year-old Mark Knowles and his first-time partner Xavier Malisse. It was the 54^th career doubles title for the former UCLA Bruin Knowles and the sixth for the singles-minded Malisse.

The No. 3 seeded team got past Somdev Devvarman and Treat Huey, 7-6 (3), 7-6 (10) in the final on Sunday which preceded the singles final. The match was tight throughout and Devvarman and Huey held several second-set points but were unable to convert. Finally, at 11-10, Knowles knocked a huge serve down the T to Devvarman who hit it wide to give Knowles-Malisse the victory in one hour and 56 minutes.

“It was nice to serve out the match. I had little flashbacks right before match point,” said Knowles. “I served out a lot of matches on the court before while playing for UCLA. They probably weren’t as meaningful as today’s but it was just exciting to be back here on my former campus.”

The former University of Virginia teammates Devvarman and Huey were playing in their first ATP doubles final.

Knowles spent the first part of the summer probably thinking if you can’t beat em, join em. It was Malisse and partner Alexandr Dolgopolov of the Ukraine who knocked out Knowles and Michael Mertinak in the first round of the French Open. It was the second tournament of the year that Malisse and a partner ousted Knowles and Mertinak.

The X-man, who wore a 10sballs.com player patch throughout the tournament, was giddy afterward. Malisse, 31, seems to have an affinity for Southern California having won the Indian Wells title back in March with Dolgopolov.

“It was awesome,” he said. “I’ve never played with anyone that consistent. As singles players it’s usually more from the back but Mark really showed some great net play today and I think it can only help my singles moving forward.”

Knowles said winning in front of his home-court crowd had extra meaning. “There’s not a tournament in my hometown so this is a very special place for me,” he said.

After cheering on Knowles and Malisse, the tennis-crazed L.A. fans were in for another treat in the singles finally encouraging Beverly Hills resident Fish, who admitted it was strange to sleep in his own bed all week. And not having someone make his bed like is usually done by the maids at hotels all over the world.

After double faulting on the first-set point Gulbis buckled down and started putting the game-plan of his new coach Guillermo Canas to work. He took a commanding 5-1 lead in the third set before Fish stormed back to make it 5-4 before Gulbis won three straight points in the final game, finally winning it on a forehand winner down the line.

“It just wasn’t meant to be,” said Fish, who won Atlanta last week and was taken to a third-set tiebreaker by tough 19-year-old American Ryan Harrison in the semifinals on Saturday. It was a rematch of their Atlanta semi. “I’ve played a lot of matches the past month and half, so he came in a little bit fresher than me. I think that played a part.”

Harrison was the first American teen to make consecutive semifinals appearances since Andy Roddick in 2002. In the other semifinal, Gulbis defeated the third American in the semis Alex Bogomolov Jr. 6-2, 7-6 (7-4).

Who knows, maybe Knowles and Malisse might just bump into a familiar face (Gulbis) sometime later Sunday evening somewhere on Sunset Blvd., sharing a toast and soaking up the victorious week. “I don’t know how much longer I’ll be able to keep doing this but it’s moments like this and playing with guys like Xavier that make it so special,” Knowles said. “This is a great lifestyle and tennis has given me a lot so I’m not in a real hurry to hang it up.

“We hope to play at the Open and throughout the summer and keep the momentum going.”

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