Is Gulbis Turning The Corner?

Written by: Staff on 26th June 2012

Is Gulbis Turning The Corner? |

Back in 2007 when he scored wins over Tommy Robredo and Tim Henman at two majors, Latvia’s Ernests Gulbis was considered one of the ATP’s most promising players, but the now 23 year old didn’t develop the proper work ethic to be able to fulfill has promise and even though he’s put together some terrific results over the years including in 2011 when he reached a carrier high No. 21 in the rankings, he has never been a major threat at the Grand Slams.

That might have changed after he upset former Wimbledon finalist Tomas Berdych in the first round of Wimbledon. The talkative and enigmatic Gulbis isn’t sure whether he has turned his career around yet, but he began to work with a new coach, Austria’s Gunther Berezniki in the last month and says he’s recommitted to the sport.

“I have been really working hard last month with the new coach, in a new place,: he said. “I did good preparation here the week before. That’s the result.. I’m just 23 years old. I’m going to be 24 this year. You know, a lot of players mature later than others. Some mature at 15; some mature the 29. I hope it’s somewhere in between; 23 is okay.”

The son of a super wealthy businessman, Gulbis has been called spoiled rich kid who doesn’t have the inner fire to succeed. He is an entertaining fellow with a lethal game, but he likes playing matches more than he does the practice court grind, which has frustrated some of his previous coaches.

“I don’t enjoy it, ” he said of practice. “But if there is a right person who can push me, and I understand why I need to do it, and the results come, then slowly I start to understand what’s necessary. I have been spending a really more time than ever on court and in the gym during this last month. The game shows it, so maybe a click is going to happen.”

Gulbis came into the Wimbledon ranked No. 87 so it’s not like he’s been tearing up the tour. He says that he was tightly wound in matches, so he went back to look at some old tapes of his matches and he saw how he was playing more freely. He had his doubts as to whether he could ever make a run at the 20 again, but he kept the faith and at least for the first Monday at Wimbledon he was the story of the day,

“In the beginning of this year, I really doubted a lot” he said. ‘I had a lot of thinking, because I didn’t like the way I was playing at all. I was too defensive, too uptight. It wasn’t really my game. Of course I doubted myself a lot. I was thinking what to do, and it was a tough time. It was depressing Not depressing in my life because I’m not a depressing person, but on the court it was really was depressing. I couldn’t find solutions. I start to trust myself, what’s coming from me more, playing with my instincts, and based on that, slowly.”