Ernests Gulbis Captures First ATP Title
Ernests Gulbis, the ultra-talented twenty-one year old, won the Delray Beach International Tennis Championships yesterday becoming the first Latvian to win an ATP World Tour title. Gulbis joins American, John Isner, in becoming the second player to win a title in
his first appearance in a final (Isner won in Auckland at the beginning of 2010).
Ernests, who has been picked by many tennis pundits during the past couple years to rise up in the rankings, reached the fourth round of the U.S. Open in 2007 and the quarterfinals of the French Open in 2008. Gulbis, who was ranked 72nd coming into the tournament, is now ranked 45th, close to his career-high ranking of 38 which he achieved in 2008.
Gulbis plays a flashy “big game” and possesses a strong serve, penetrating groundstrokes, as well as soft touch on delicate drop shots. Ernests trained at Niki Pilic’s academy in Germany during his formative teen years alongside Novak Djokovic part of the time, but he started working with Argentine, Hernan Gumy, in September, 2009. Gumy, who played on the Tour, formerly coached Russian, Marat Safin. Perhaps Gumy, who has the experience of having worked with Safin, will be able to harness Gulbis’ talent and focus his game in order to help him fulfill his potential.
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