The Ernests' Earnest Journey Towards Elitism!
- Thread starter stringertom
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M
monfed
Guest
... can't wait to see him shaking things even more !
damned... that was close today ! :-?
It certainly was, seems that these days evil prevails over good.(no idea why?)
Nope, only if Fed wins is that true
M
monfed
Guest
LMAO you don't even like tennis so why are you talking?
Relinquis
Hall of Fame
so close, he must be able to taste it now... this is good, will motivate him even more.
if he can think of these moments while he plays lower level guys, it will give him the motivation to put up with annoyances like bad calls, crowds and umpires...
He's going to have an impact on Roland Garros.
if he can think of these moments while he plays lower level guys, it will give him the motivation to put up with annoyances like bad calls, crowds and umpires...
He's going to have an impact on Roland Garros.
stringertom
Bionic Poster
Bittersweet taste to this loss...notice has been served The Ernests is a potential nightmare if he is in Rafa's draw @RG. I really hope that happens and he can finish the job Isner failed at a couple of years ago. Aiziet, Gulbi!
vive le beau jeu !
Talk Tennis Guru
imagine a 1st round denadalization of the draw by ernests... that would be amazing !
aiziet aizet !!!
Relinquis
Hall of Fame
Gulbis post match words...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9IxWc8MYKug
He's focused on winning the next won... The guys wants a win, you can see it. He will fight even more next time.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9IxWc8MYKug
He's focused on winning the next won... The guys wants a win, you can see it. He will fight even more next time.
Talker
Hall of Fame
Gulbis did a very good job.
Not many can push Nadal like Gulbis did.
This is clay, Nadal's turf and he knows everything to know about it in addition to his awesome skills on the surface.
Add to that Nadal's massive experience in tight situations.
Most players are lucky to get 6 games total.
There was nothing fluky about Gulbis' play, that's how he can play most the time.
Gulbis seemingly is getting more used to his new forehand, it's become more effective.
It's just been months since Gulbis gave up drinking, cigarettes and the party life.
It takes awhile with the bar set so high in todays game to challenge the best, Gulbis has made great strides in just months and against the best was right there.
I was very impressed with his performance, the wins will come as long as he keeps working.
Not many can push Nadal like Gulbis did.
This is clay, Nadal's turf and he knows everything to know about it in addition to his awesome skills on the surface.
Add to that Nadal's massive experience in tight situations.
Most players are lucky to get 6 games total.
There was nothing fluky about Gulbis' play, that's how he can play most the time.
Gulbis seemingly is getting more used to his new forehand, it's become more effective.
It's just been months since Gulbis gave up drinking, cigarettes and the party life.
It takes awhile with the bar set so high in todays game to challenge the best, Gulbis has made great strides in just months and against the best was right there.
I was very impressed with his performance, the wins will come as long as he keeps working.
stringertom
Bionic Poster
imagine a 1st round denadalization of the draw by ernests... that would be amazing !
aiziet aizet !!!
I researched in a medical glossary and located a description of a surgical procedure called nadalectomy. Quite a brutal operation, requiring four or more hours but a lot of "down time" between incisions. There is one specialist in France, a Swedish doctor named Soderling. Many have applied for certification, including two apps pending from a Latvian and a Pole. May they become board certified very soon!
I agree. Gulbis played well - he didn't give that match away. He made Nadal earn that win every step of the way.
I think we're seeing the beginning of the end of Big 4 dominance with the rise of guys like Gulbis, Dimitrov, Janowicz, etc. These guys believe they can play with the big boys. I don't get the feeling they're beat before taking the court like many other players.
stringertom
Bionic Poster
If only what you wrote could become to be true!
vive le beau jeu !
Talk Tennis Guru
forget about the certification... i hope you already booked an appointement with one of those guys !
i want one RIGHT NOW !!!
marc45
G.O.A.T.
more context here http://tennis.si.com/2013/05/16/rafael-nadal-ernests-gulbis-italian-open/?sct=tn_t11_a1...and it shows he still does not quite get it...until he does he'll be a legend in his own mind, not on the court like the guy across the net from him yesterday...as much as that pains a large percentage of the inmates here
stringertom
Bionic Poster
If you read the last paragraph of your own link you might realize he does indeed "get it".
I'd rather be an "inmate" in an asylum that worships tennis with some style and substance than watch us crown champions subscribing to the same old boring monotone of ball bashing that ekes out trophies solely through pure attrition.
maruzo
Semi-Pro
That is good to know. I was very impressed with his play against Nadal as well.
Gulbis outplayed Nadal for sure in that match. Nadal outlasted Gulbis, with his slices and his composure in the crucial points.
But boy was Nadal boring to watch. Almost disrespectful his lousy performance. I mean Gulbis gave 110% and nadal replied with slices and ding shots but still acted like he deserved to win.
marc45
G.O.A.T.
you don't get it either, congratulations.....btw, they said on sky tv today that it was a stupid comment, rarely does a broadcaster say that about a player
namelessone
Legend
That is good to know. I was very impressed with his play against Nadal as well.
Gulbis outplayed Nadal for sure in that match. Nadal outlasted Gulbis, with his slices and his composure in the crucial points.
But boy was Nadal boring to watch. Almost disrespectful his lousy performance. I mean Gulbis gave 110% and nadal replied with slices and ding shots but still acted like he deserved to win.
There is no DESERVING to win, there is only winning.
And does Gulbis deserve to win if he makes 50 UE and goes down to "slices and ding shots" in crucial points? Nope, he doesn't.
You and others don't seem to get or ignore on purpose the fact that tennis is played on won in the crucial junctures of a match. Getting pummeled temporarily and being nearly beaten is not being outplayed, you are being outplayed when your opponent does so in the key moments. Gulbis played outstanding tennis when he wasn't close to winning(first set) and when he fell behind, usually breaking Nadal right back.
I like how people talk about Gulbis outplaying Nadal and deserving to win this match when Ernie didn't even have a MP. To use a different match for comparison, I'll talk about Nadal-Davydenko in Doha.
Nadal is really taking it to a so-so Nikolay and bagels him in the first set :shock:
Then Davydenko balances things out and makes the second set close but in the TB, Nadal has MP which he wastes on a routine forehand. Davy wins the second set, Nadal breaks him in the third and has chances to break again but Davy saves them all and comes back to re-break and win the match.
That match looked a lot like Gulbis-Nadal. In most stretches of this match Nadal was dominating Davy off the ground. But when it came time to drive the point home, Davy wouldn't let him and Nadal would play the critical junctures of the match poorly, so he subsequently lost.
Talker
Hall of Fame
Davydenko is about as mentally tough as there is in finals.
Gulbis didn't adjust his game hardly, when his shots were starting to miss he still went for them, maybe hoping they would start landing again.
He'll learn from this however.
Fifth Set
Professional
I'm a big Gulbis fan but this notion of "deserving" to win but not winning is pretty lame.
There are "style points" in tennis, but only if you care about what people say.
If you care about winning titles, then just win them, regardless of style.
Gulbis is good enough to do this but he will need to buckle down and focus.
There are "style points" in tennis, but only if you care about what people say.
If you care about winning titles, then just win them, regardless of style.
Gulbis is good enough to do this but he will need to buckle down and focus.
stringertom
Bionic Poster
That is what Gulbis acknowledged in the last paragraph of the link...it didn't matter how good he played or how great the match was; the only thing that counts is a win.
marc45
G.O.A.T.
he's ranked 39, still won't be seeded for french...first thing i'll look for in the draw after which half rafa is in is where gulbis is...don't think any top guy wants him early..has to be the most dangerous floater and could do major damage, which i almost never say about "dangerous floaters"
stringertom
Bionic Poster
I'm hoping he "floats" right into a 1R or 2R matchup with His Kneeness!
sportsfan1
Legend
Gulbis is very talented, but not as much as Gulbis himself thinks he is.
Pete Bodo got it right in his article on tennis.com: http://www.tennis.com/pro-game/2013/05/thumbs-thumbs-down-may-20/47515/#.UZp6C8rDv84
lol...
Pete Bodo got it right in his article on tennis.com: http://www.tennis.com/pro-game/2013/05/thumbs-thumbs-down-may-20/47515/#.UZp6C8rDv84
lol...
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mikeler
Moderator
The 5 people USA Today thinks stand a chance of beating Nadal at the French Open:
http://www.usatoday.com/videos/sports/tennis/french/2013/05/22/2350373/
http://www.usatoday.com/videos/sports/tennis/french/2013/05/22/2350373/
Relinquis
Hall of Fame
if ferrer can maintain mental focus i can see him having a life-altering breakthrough against Rafa... he was close to beating him the past two clay matches they played. first two sets were tight in both cases.
watch their Rome match. David was bossing the rallies... wow. was a solid battle.
watch their Rome match. David was bossing the rallies... wow. was a solid battle.
stringertom
Bionic Poster
Try as I can to believe in your thought, I am reminded that Ferrer's signature on the Armada Contract is as bold and big as John Hancock's sign-off on the Declaration of Independence. It's just not gonna happen!
wintintu
Hall of Fame
Big day tomorrow for us Gulbis fans! Ideal draw I think would be a qualifier first, then maybe Nieminen or someone he has a great record against, and to be in Tipsarevic's section of the draw, and in Federer's quarter, and in Ferrer's half!!
Wouldn't it be fantastic if he avoided Rafa and Nole altogether!!?? I actually think Ernie can beat Federer for sure, and can beat Ferrer although I would be more confident of him beating Federer in this tournament.
Blog preview of tournament at below website!
Come on Ernests!
Wouldn't it be fantastic if he avoided Rafa and Nole altogether!!?? I actually think Ernie can beat Federer for sure, and can beat Ferrer although I would be more confident of him beating Federer in this tournament.
Blog preview of tournament at below website!
Come on Ernests!
tennisaddict
Bionic Poster
Big day tomorrow for us Gulbis fans! Ideal draw I think would be a qualifier first, then maybe Nieminen or someone he has a great record against, and to be in Tipsarevic's section of the draw, and in Federer's quarter, and in Ferrer's half!!
Wouldn't it be fantastic if he avoided Rafa and Nole altogether!!?? I actually think Ernie can beat Federer for sure, and can beat Ferrer although I would be more confident of him beating Federer in this tournament.
Blog preview of tournament at below website!
Come on Ernests!
One swallow doesn't make a summer. Federer will no doubt beat Gulbis. However Gulbis may just be ready to beat Nadal.
I'm not sure where this is coming from. Nadal is much better on clay than Fed and in a 3 out of 5 I don't see Gulbis having the mental fortitude to beat Fed, much less Nadal. If Gulbis could beat one of them, I'd pick Fed at this point.
eliars
Hall of Fame
Er, no. Gulbis will most likely lose in the 2nd round and even if he makes it through that one he has to play 3 CC specialists in a row (assuming they advance as expected). And he'll lose to one of those, that is if he's not knocked out by Berdman first.
Talker
Hall of Fame
This will be the first tournament Gulbis hasn't played qualies for some time.
Though qualies aren't considered good they prepare the player for the surface and can be of some help.
Gulbis will have no time to get his game tuned to the surface but will have one match to get adjusted with Silva, then meets Monfils or Berdych and Berdych will most likely take out Monfils.
Gulbis against Berdych should be pretty good, both have plenty of power.
Gulbis should have a decent chance, he's played tough against everyone and seems to get just a little better each tournament.
Though qualies aren't considered good they prepare the player for the surface and can be of some help.
Gulbis will have no time to get his game tuned to the surface but will have one match to get adjusted with Silva, then meets Monfils or Berdych and Berdych will most likely take out Monfils.
Gulbis against Berdych should be pretty good, both have plenty of power.
Gulbis should have a decent chance, he's played tough against everyone and seems to get just a little better each tournament.
veroniquem
Bionic Poster
Well, you lost your bet.
MindoverMatter
Professional
Well, he beat Berdych in the first round of Wimbledon last year and I wouldn't exactly call it reaching to say that Wimbledon is Berdych's best slam
GRANITECHIEF
Hall of Fame
Gulbis has a better than even chance to advance past Berdych and Robredo. Almagro would be close but good chance there too.
wintintu
Hall of Fame
Well, no. There is certainly doubt. You may think Federer is a sure thing but he is far from that. Gulbis beat Federer on clay in 2010 when Federer was far better than he is now. Gulbis took 15 games from Rafa last week in Rome including a 6-1 first set. Federer took 4.
Yes! It can happen. As a Gulbis fan I am most worried about Ferrer. Very confident Gulbis will take out Berdych in rd 2 and I think if he gets as far as Federer he will beat him.
Sure did! It will be interesting to see how well Gulbis does. I think he's got possibilities to go deep if he keeps his head together. I do think he could trouble and beat Berdych.
stringertom
Bionic Poster
Berdych must be asking "WTF"??? First, LeClown decides to peak in Nice and draws Berd in R1. Then, if he takes out the crowd favorite, he most likely has an even tougher R2 vs The Ernests. This, after withdrawing this week due to "fatigue".
Aiziet Gulbi! Go deep, my friend!
Aiziet Gulbi! Go deep, my friend!
The Byrd is in for a world of hurt as far as I can see. I'd love to see Gulbis do well and show his new self in this tournament.
beast of mallorca
G.O.A.T.
I think this is the most worthy Finals to be had, after the draw came out. Hope It happens........:twisted:
