JankovicFan
Semi-Pro
Nieminen has a better 2008 record and is currently ranked significantly higher than Gulbis.
F: Adelaide SF: Stockholm QF: Australian Open, Bastad
Ernest Gulbis...players should be scared
- Thread starter oneguy21
- Start date
Nieminen has a better 2008 record and is currently ranked significantly higher than Gulbis.
F: Adelaide SF: Stockholm QF: Australian Open, Bastad
oneguy21
Banned
I agree with all of you saying that Gulbis has the talent. He played frighteningly good tennis when he played Roddick in R2 of the US Open but only for a set and a half. If he's going to be a real threat to top ten players he needs to play higher percentage tennis. He needs to learn to go for his shots at the right times. By next year, I believe if he gets more consistent he'll make a place for himself in the top 10, and maybe the year after that he might even become a legitimate contender at the slams.
J-man
Hall of Fame
That doesn't mean that he posses the weapons that Gulbis has
Shaolin
G.O.A.T.
You can pick lots of random players ranked higher than Gulbis right now. Nieminen is a solid lefty grinder type that has probably reached his peak. He has nowhere near the weapons of a Gulbis. Gulbis on the other hand just turned 20 and is an unreal talent that hasnt even begun to fulfill his potential yet. A guy like Nieminen could never win a major. The other guys you referenced, Kohl and Tipsy, probably wont ever win a major. Gulbis can and probably will win at least 1-2.
tennispro2388
New User
Lundgren
I'm not sure where Peter Lundgern is right now, but I think Gulbis might benefit from his coaching. Plenty of talent that needs to be controlled, who better than Fed's, Safin's, Rios's past coach?
I'm not sure where Peter Lundgern is right now, but I think Gulbis might benefit from his coaching. Plenty of talent that needs to be controlled, who better than Fed's, Safin's, Rios's past coach?
Fedace
Banned
So does Thomas Berdych and he really hasn't lived up to his potential. so we will have to see if Ernest will be better player than Berdy in the long run.
rubberduckies
Professional
Gulbis does things that have never before been seen in tennis. He has the most powerful groundies in the history of tennis. He has a crafty and effective finesse game to compliment that power. He has the potential to elevate tennis to new level. Take Safin, improve on all aspects of his game (except speed), remove his anger, and you have Gulbis.
JankovicFan
Semi-Pro
That's a fantasy. Let's wait and see.
D
Deleted member 21996
Guest
is he that ugly?
flyer
Hall of Fame
there was a thread last year almost exactly like this one and i said basically exactly the same thing
gulbis, game is similar to safin's of 5/10 years ago just without the speed...safin was faster
anyway hes very dangerous on a on e match basis but his style is to erratic and hence prone to let down to be a slam contender or consistent force
gulbis, game is similar to safin's of 5/10 years ago just without the speed...safin was faster
anyway hes very dangerous on a on e match basis but his style is to erratic and hence prone to let down to be a slam contender or consistent force
veroniquem
Bionic Poster
Gulbis's game is fantastic but mentally he's all over the place and there's no way to accurately predict if he will ever overcome that problem.
I've seen the kid play live. I've never in my life seen someone hit the ball harder than he does. If the kid beefs up a little (one commentator at the USO said that he had never done weight work before) and changes his mental approach to the game, he'll win a slam. If the grass at Wimby speeds up even a little, he could simply overpower the field.
edmondsm
Legend
You can only overpower the field when your shots are landing in. How many times have we seen a young player with tons of power? How many have gone on to win slams? If I'm a player I definitely don't want to play Gulbis, but if I'm a gambler I definitely don't want to pick him.
rubberduckies
Professional
Not with this type of power. This is a level of power that makes Safin, Tursinov, and Berdych look weak. Then you add in his superb touch and remarkable finesse game. He is close to having a real breakthrough on the tour. I just hope Nadal has time to hammer out some more majors before the Latvian Legend takes over the sport for good.
J-man
Hall of Fame
Never done weight work before?! And have that much power. Gee. He's built pretty solid. Like I and many many others have stated before he has tons of talent and is like a fertile field. Soooo much promise. Expanding his shot selection, and fitness, and overall experience and things will start to take course.
Shaolin
G.O.A.T.
Quoted for truth. Gulbis completely destroys the ball AND had great touch. Plus has an excellent transition game/very very underrated volleys.
edmondsm
Legend
I agree with all this, but I'll believe it when I see the results. Against Granollers, as in every time I've watched him, he goes from brilliant play to absolute (excuse the expression) ****** mode. As long as he can at least keep the brain cramps to a minimum then he has great potential, but it's easier said then done.
jamesblakefan#1
G.O.A.T.
What has Gulbis actually WON, exactly. Yeah he has a nice game, but the result dont match the hype, especially w/ guys like Murray, DelPotro, & Tsonga in his same age era. I kno Tsonga's older, but he has a lot more dangerous game, with touch at the net, and has had way better results. I'm not buying Gulbis yet.
SirBlend12
Semi-Pro
Finally some have realized how this kid could go somewhere. What I haven't managed to understand yet is this...
How is his mental game hurting him?
I've seen tons of Gulbis matches, and I've never seen the indication that it's his mental game costing him matches. It's his consistency.
If he could remove even 10% of the errors from his general play, what would stop him?
On another note, we need more "young guns" like him. Anyone seen an interview? True gentleman, no ego, great example for everyone who (in the future) would say he was "one of the cool guys when I was a kid".
Side note- for all those who are voicing a feeling of being letdown by Safin, how has he really failed? I mean no, he didn't win all the Slams he was supposed to, but look how long he's been in the game, playing good from time to time, and he's become somewhat notorious. Give him a LITTLE credit.
Anyway, if the kid can cut down on errors and keep his gameplan steady, I see no reason why anyone on the other end of a hard court (or grass court) shouldn't be scared. Maybe he'll be the next hero. Maybe he'll be the next threat. Maybe he'll be the Safin of my generation. Doesn't matter. Any of those is just fine.
How is his mental game hurting him?
I've seen tons of Gulbis matches, and I've never seen the indication that it's his mental game costing him matches. It's his consistency.
If he could remove even 10% of the errors from his general play, what would stop him?
On another note, we need more "young guns" like him. Anyone seen an interview? True gentleman, no ego, great example for everyone who (in the future) would say he was "one of the cool guys when I was a kid".
Side note- for all those who are voicing a feeling of being letdown by Safin, how has he really failed? I mean no, he didn't win all the Slams he was supposed to, but look how long he's been in the game, playing good from time to time, and he's become somewhat notorious. Give him a LITTLE credit.
Anyway, if the kid can cut down on errors and keep his gameplan steady, I see no reason why anyone on the other end of a hard court (or grass court) shouldn't be scared. Maybe he'll be the next hero. Maybe he'll be the next threat. Maybe he'll be the Safin of my generation. Doesn't matter. Any of those is just fine.
JankovicFan
Semi-Pro
Again, he kills the ball on every shot, and then is wildly and inconsistently spraying the balls everywhere. It isn't his "mental game" or any of that other stuff. He just needs to keep the ball between the lines. He is long or wide on way too many shots. Meanwhile he has this reputation of being such a poweful hitter, Well, excuse me, but they need to still be inside the court. Others could do that too, and for what? His game is a train wreck, winning by sheer circumstance, if at all. I wish him well, but all the hype is pure BS or trying to make too much of having cute, curly hair or something.
rubberduckies
Professional
You're like the only person who keeps mentioning his appearance. I guess you think he's cute or whatever. Most of the people commenting are probably guys - we really don't care how he looks. I think he looks like Michael Cera of Juno. That is not a compliment.
(FEDERER)vs(NADAL)
Semi-Pro
del potro v gulbis in a few hours. can't wait!
TennezSport
Hall of Fame
Agreed...............
I have to go with you on this as it seems Gulbis doesn't know how to really construct a point. It's just blast 'em slash 'em robot, as he did in the Granollers match yesterday. He consistently went from great shot to "what the hell was that???" Against better players he will not last very long like that. He kinda reminds me of the new version of James Blake or the old version of Safin; throw him a soft floaty ball and he commits a UE almost every time.
Cheers, TennezSport
I have to go with you on this as it seems Gulbis doesn't know how to really construct a point. It's just blast 'em slash 'em robot, as he did in the Granollers match yesterday. He consistently went from great shot to "what the hell was that???" Against better players he will not last very long like that. He kinda reminds me of the new version of James Blake or the old version of Safin; throw him a soft floaty ball and he commits a UE almost every time.
Cheers, TennezSport
rubberduckies
Professional
Gulbis is in Murray's quarter for the Aussie. Gulbis and Murray will wear each other out, which will leave the door open for Nadal in the semis. How long will it be before the Latvian Legend is no longer beatable? Moses, Jesus, Mohammed, L Ron Hubbard, and now Ernests. The Legend lives on in each of us.
Tshooter
G.O.A.T.
"I forgot who he lost to at the USO in '08, bc until then he was having a pretty good run."
Don't know how Roddick pulled that match out and I was there. Gulbis after completely outplaying Roddick for a set and a half just kind of went away. But I'm with the camp that thinks Gulbis is going to crack the top 5. And he has the game to win slams.
If he gets his head together. It's a critical year for him. He needs to tighten up his game and get mentally tough or he can become a Gasquet....
Don't know how Roddick pulled that match out and I was there. Gulbis after completely outplaying Roddick for a set and a half just kind of went away. But I'm with the camp that thinks Gulbis is going to crack the top 5. And he has the game to win slams.
If he gets his head together. It's a critical year for him. He needs to tighten up his game and get mentally tough or he can become a Gasquet....
daddy
Legend
By far his best GS performance was a close loss to Novak in 08 RG, he lost like 7-5 7-6 7-5 and it was mighty tough. I think he needs a bot more focus bu see whats happening with murray ? We all thought we lost hima s a serious contender yet he is back and challanging for GS's. There is time for this kid if he sorts out some things. Potential i there,b tu he needs to solve some other issues, especially he has to be more constant and mentaly stable as a rock if he's going to brake the top 5.
Shaolin
G.O.A.T.
I think you overlook him annihilating Robredo at the US Open in a display that will never be forgotten by anyone who ever saw it. He also totally crushed Blake in the round before he played Djokovic at RG.
daddy
Legend
Yes but we have to agree that both Robredo and Blake are not what Djokovic is. He gave nr3 almost a lesson, it was a small details and a couple of balls which could have gone either way,Djoko could have lost it easily. Also I remember that Gulbis gave a hard time to Nadal at one match at GS, taking a set of him which was quite an acomplishment given the form Nadal was in last season.
Yeah, as I said potential and knoledge is there, will he build on it remains to be seen. I like the kid anyways, smooth form the baseline, extra smooth on the net and huge serve, good from both wings, definitly a contender for big results but he kind of a never made a real breakthrough vs a top player like rafa or Nole .. And had his chances.
Thats why in my mind Blake and Robredo wins come up just short to tight losses vs Djoker at RG ( yes it was straight sets but boy they were tough ) and taking a set from Rafa on fire. Matter of opinion.
vtmike
Banned
Had to revive this thread after I saw this videos...just look at how uncomfortable he makes Nadal...and a big reason is his strong two handed backhand
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7AO1U3nfGH0&feature=related
I still think he will be a top 3 player in a couple of years...and he will be to Nadal the same way Nadal is to Federer...and if he can be more consistent then he is going to dominate
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7AO1U3nfGH0&feature=related
I still think he will be a top 3 player in a couple of years...and he will be to Nadal the same way Nadal is to Federer...and if he can be more consistent then he is going to dominate
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jamesblakefan#1
G.O.A.T.
Still hasn't won anything of great note. It's like one step forward, 3 steps back with this guy. Has the good CC season beating Fed in Rome and taking a set from Nadal, then loses 1R of RG. Hasn't been seen since.
Chris Rizutto
Banned
He has a great all court game. He overhits and goes for too much. His return of serve is the most aggressive I have seen when its on. Hopefully he will improve his consistency. I see him in the top 20 at least in the next few years.
Underhand
Legend
Visit your optician ASAP.
Chris Rizutto
Banned
jamesblakefan#1
G.O.A.T.
I've heard this before. Oh wait, in 2007, then 2008, then 2009....
Chris Rizutto
Banned
Hes young, give him some time to flourish or fail like Blake.
Commando Tennis Shorts
Hall of Fame
Gulbis will always be an overall mediocre player with flashes of talent without actually wowing because he'll always hold onto the name recognition perpetuated by people who continually overrate him.
jamesblakefan#1
G.O.A.T.
World #4, multiple slam QFs, YEC finalist, Davis Cup champ. Yep that's a failure.
Real successes spend more time buying hookers than practicing.
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