Gulbis is back to 2014 RG form, possibly better

Meles

Meles

Bionic Poster
I've seen him smash ********* several times on clay and the guy is awesome when he's on song on clay. Just saw his last two sets in Bastad back on clay today and Gulbis was stunningly good. No gun, but swear he was hitting in mid 140s (mph) to dig out of 0-30 hole on serve today. Crushing backhand. Lots of dropshots. Superlative play. His new forehand was solid to boot. Some forehand UEs, but most were close to the line. Looks physically stronger than 2014 and the forehand may get even better as he's still in the infancy of his comeback. If he goes deep at Bastad, he should at least get Special Entry to Hamburg or Gstaad next week. Kitzbuhel might extend his clay season with wildcard given the Bresnik/Thiem connection.:p Gulbis needs points fast as he is playing under a protected ranking and is ranked around 400.:confused:
 
He was really good on grass too until he played CC where he was a bit blown away w the whole thing. Pretty amazing what he did in Wimbledon. His matches there except the one he lost was so good it was incredible really how he went on. Federer forgot all about Gulbis when talking about defensive players. Gulbis was so on it. Really fun matches w a lot of aggression. Thiem-Pop match and Gulbis matches were the Wimbledon highlights for me.
But of course.. Gulbis really flourish on clay. Hope he doesnt get injured during HC season.
 
TheGhostOfAgassi said:
He was really good on grass too until he played CC where he was a bit blown away w the whole thing. Pretty amazing what he did in Wimbledon. His matches there except the one he lost was so good it was incredible really how he went on. Federer forgot all about Gulbis when talking about defensive players. Gulbis was so on it. Really fun matches w a lot of aggression. Thiem-Pop match and Gulbis matches were the Wimbledon highlights for me.
But of course.. Gulbis really flourish on clay. Hope he doesnt get injured during HC season.
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His play in the Delpo match was pretty stunning. Not impressed with Gulbis on fast courts for the most part, but the groundies clicking on grass was an incredibly good sign.:p
 
helterskelter said:
Too bad Gulbis couldn't close out his denadalization projects at either Indian Wells or Rome 2013.
Click to expand...
17/2010 SF Rome Masters Clay Rafael Nadal Ernests Gulbis 6-4 3-6 6-4 1.05 - 14.80

This one was on heels of ********* beating. Hmmm. The Hurricane Ernesto pattern. Category 3 in 2010, Category 4 in 2014, category 5 in 2018?:D

Former fan and he's got me again with his play today on clay (Wimby got me close, but then not as good against Djoko after beating Delpo.:()
 
Meles said:
His play in the Delpo match was pretty stunning. Not impressed with Gulbis on fast courts for the most part, but the groundies clicking on grass was an incredibly good sign.:p
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His first round in Wimbledon was way better than any of the big 4. Did you watch it? I couldnt almost believe my eyes.
 
Meles said:
17/2010 SF Rome Masters Clay Rafael Nadal Ernests Gulbis 6-4 3-6 6-4 1.05 - 14.80

This one was on heels of ********* beating. Hmmm. The Hurricane Ernesto pattern. Category 3 in 2010, Category 4 in 2014, category 5 in 2018?:D

Former fan and he's got me again with his play today on clay (Wimby got me close, but then not as good against Djoko after beating Delpo.:()
Click to expand...
So.....RIP Ernests Gulbis tennis career?
 
Meles said:
17/2010 SF Rome Masters Clay Rafael Nadal Ernests Gulbis 6-4 3-6 6-4 1.05 - 14.80

This one was on heels of ********* beating. Hmmm. The Hurricane Ernesto pattern. Category 3 in 2010, Category 4 in 2014, category 5 in 2018?:D

Former fan and he's got me again with his play today on clay (Wimby got me close, but then not as good against Djoko after beating Delpo.:()
Click to expand...
I played better than him but he played better on the important points.

Rafa explaining it that tennis is not football. He in a way think the best player didnt win the match, but in tennis you have to win in the right points. Epic press conferences from both players. Was a great match.

Edit-- from 2013. Unforgettable match, One of the few matches w Rafa I remember from that year.
 
If Gulbis is "stunningly good" then why is he playing on clay when the American HC season begins in one week? He was also "stunningly" good for the first 20 minutes of his Wimbledon match against Djoker and then folded like a cheap tent. I like this guy but he's never having any results.
 
BeatlesFan said:
If Gulbis is "stunningly good" then why is he playing on clay when the American HC season begins in one week? He was also "stunningly" good for the first 20 minutes of his Wimbledon match against Djoker and then folded like a cheap tent. I like this guy but he's never having any results.
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Because he has been injured an off court long time and off the rankings. He cant just pick and choose where to play........US/Can rather gives `WC to locals... But he used his oppurtunity in Wimbledon amazingly well...
 
I enjoy watching Gulbis play, he's definitely got flair. Hopefully, he gets to play Federer some more in the future.
 
Meles said:
I've seen him smash ********* several times on clay and the guy is awesome when he's on song on clay. Just saw his last two sets in Bastad back on clay today and Gulbis was stunningly good. No gun, but swear he was hitting in mid 140s (mph) to dig out of 0-30 hole on serve today. Crushing backhand. Lots of dropshots. Superlative play. His new forehand was solid to boot. Some forehand UEs, but most were close to the line. Looks physically stronger than 2014 and the forehand may get even better as he's still in the infancy of his comeback. If he goes deep at Bastad, he should at least get Special Entry to Hamburg or Gstaad next week. Kitzbuhel might extend his clay season with wildcard given the Bresnik/Thiem connection.:p Gulbis needs points fast as he is playing under a protected ranking and is ranked around 400.:confused:
Click to expand...

Who was he playing in the match in Bastad?

What is the forehand technique looking like? I heard he was changing it because he was concerned that other players were mocking him.
 
TheGhostOfAgassi said:
I played better than him but he played better on the important points.

Rafa explaining it that tennis is not football. He in a way think the best player didnt win the match, but in tennis you have to win in the right points. Epic press conferences from both players. Was a great match.

Edit-- from 2013. Unforgettable match, One of the few matches w Rafa I remember from that year.
Click to expand...

There was one unbeleivable Nadal/Gulbis match in the past years, this must have been it? I think Gulbis played another match against Rafa on HC that was extremely exciting and close. Maybe in MOntreal?
 
Get A Grip said:
There was one unbeleivable Nadal/Gulbis match in the past years, this must have been it? I think Gulbis played another match against Rafa on HC that was extremely exciting and close. Maybe in MOntreal?
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Nope. That was match points against Peakovic at Rogers in 2015.
 
Get A Grip said:
Yes. I just remember tow amazing Rafa/Gulbs matches, one clay, one HC.
They are a beautiful matchup.
So is Rafa/Dimi--they almost always play close exciting matches.
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My dream is to watch Gulbis and Rafa live on clay. Its such a great matchup. Maybe my favourite matchup. Hope they both are injury free next year so possible it can happen in Madrid and Barcelona. Bet Gulbis will play all these if he climbs the rakings now.
 
Get A Grip said:
But there one against Rafa too ...not sure where, maybe it was IW
Hope you're right about Gulbs
We need more threats.
Click to expand...
1/2014 QF Doha Hard Rafael Nadal Ernests Gulbis 7-5 6-4 1.19 - 5.57
20/2013 R16 Rome Masters Clay Rafael Nadal Ernests Gulbis 1-6 7-5 6-4 1.11 - 8.36
10/2013 R16 Indian Wells Masters Hard Rafael Nadal Ernests Gulbis 4-6 6-4 7-5 1.38 - 3.40
1/2011 QF Doha Hard Rafael Nadal Ernests Gulbis 7-6(3) 6-3 1.30 - 3.85
17/2010 SF Rome Masters Clay Rafael Nadal Ernests Gulbis 6-4 3-6 6-4 1.05 - 14.80
42/2008 R32 Madrid Masters Hard Rafael Nadal Ernests Gulbis 7-5 3-6 6-3 1.10 - 6.00
26/2008 R64 Wimbledon Grass Rafael Nadal Ernests Gulbis 5-7 6-2 7-6(2) 6-3 1.07 - 7.50

Their history.:rolleyes:

Gulbis is 309 in the live rankings and would have to win Bastad to crack the top 150.:confused: Win in Gstaad would get him to about 65. Win in Kitzbuhel top 50.:eek: This is not really possible even when on the Meles hype train.:D
 
Meles said:
1/2014 QF Doha Hard Rafael Nadal Ernests Gulbis 7-5 6-4 1.19 - 5.57
20/2013 R16 Rome Masters Clay Rafael Nadal Ernests Gulbis 1-6 7-5 6-4 1.11 - 8.36
10/2013 R16 Indian Wells Masters Hard Rafael Nadal Ernests Gulbis 4-6 6-4 7-5 1.38 - 3.40
1/2011 QF Doha Hard Rafael Nadal Ernests Gulbis 7-6(3) 6-3 1.30 - 3.85
17/2010 SF Rome Masters Clay Rafael Nadal Ernests Gulbis 6-4 3-6 6-4 1.05 - 14.80
42/2008 R32 Madrid Masters Hard Rafael Nadal Ernests Gulbis 7-5 3-6 6-3 1.10 - 6.00
26/2008 R64 Wimbledon Grass Rafael Nadal Ernests Gulbis 5-7 6-2 7-6(2) 6-3 1.07 - 7.50

Their history.:rolleyes:

Gulbis is 309 in the live rankings and would have to win Bastad to crack the top 150.:confused: Win in Gstaad would get him to about 65. Win in Kitzbuhel top 50.:eek: This is not really possible even when on the Meles hype train.:D
Click to expand...

Thanks Meles. What are the final two numbers at the end, i.e. not part of the score, so in Doha 2014 1.19-5.57?

Well even if the "Meles HYpe Train" (LOL! IS this like "The Midnight Train to Georgia"? SUperstar! But he didn't get far ....) won't get Glubis into the top 50 anytime soon, it's still a nice way to travel.

Meles on another subject entirely, would you agree the young threats on clay, primarily Thiem and to a lesser extent A Zverev, are bigger threats than the nonexistent threats on grass?
 
Get A Grip said:
Thanks Meles. What are the final two numbers at the end, i.e. not part of the score, so in Doha 2014 1.19-5.57?

Well even if the "Meles HYpe Train" (LOL! IS this like "The Midnight Train to Georgia"? SUperstar! But he didn't get far ....) won't get Glubis into the top 50 anytime soon, it's still a nice way to travel.

Meles on another subject entirely, would you agree the young threats on clay, primarily Thiem and to a lesser extent A Zverev, are bigger threats than the nonexistent threats on grass?
Click to expand...
hahahahahahaha so funny.
And you and Meles nice writings.
In about 15 min something happening in Umag, an injured player comeback :D
 
Get A Grip said:
Thanks Meles. What are the final two numbers at the end, i.e. not part of the score, so in Doha 2014 1.19-5.57?

Well even if the "Meles HYpe Train" (LOL! IS this like "The Midnight Train to Georgia"? SUperstar! But he didn't get far ....) won't get Glubis into the top 50 anytime soon, it's still a nice way to travel.

Meles on another subject entirely, would you agree the young threats on clay, primarily Thiem and to a lesser extent A Zverev, are bigger threats than the nonexistent threats on grass?
Click to expand...
Those numbers are the odds (matchstat head to head). Khachanov and Gulbis are first on in Bastad tomorrow and the newer model is favored.:eek:

Hard courts is the least favorite surface for young players because of the power baseline game and ball bounce height requiring upper body strength which does not full develop until mid-20's years of age. Taller players like Zverev and Kyrgios likely to have earlier success these days, but the heat, wear and tear, and stamina needed in modern hard court game to do not favor them. Witness the Staminamal's physical destruction of Djoko at last year's US Open. This is what it takes on hard courts to take over in these slams these days. That kind of stamina takes even longer to develop.

Grass is not bad for the younger players, but we saw this year that the veterans did extremely well. Not many players have experience on the grass early so this disfavors younger players for the most part. Zverev is a very fine grass court player. (Thiem has come back to reality this year, but still has some hope for the future.)

Clay is a graveyard for geriatrics. All the stats show decline on clay for the older players. This very fact favors the younger players on tour on clay.

Gulbis might be able to put up his best year on clay in 2018 (he'll turn 30 later in the year), but the clock is ticking.:confused: Hopefully the new Gulbis game works well on hard courts which is where for his age he should have more success.
 
Meles said:
Those numbers are the odds (matchstat head to head). Khachanov and Gulbis are first on in Bastad tomorrow and the newer model is favored.:eek:

Hard courts is the least favorite surface for young players because of the power baseline game and ball bounce height requiring upper body strength which does not full develop until mid-20's years of age. Taller players like Zverev and Kyrgios likely to have earlier success these days, but the heat, wear and tear, and stamina needed in modern hard court game to do not favor them. Witness the Staminamal's physical destruction of Djoko at last year's US Open. This is what it takes on hard courts to take over in these slams these days. That kind of stamina takes even longer to develop.

Grass is not bad for the younger players, but we saw this year that the veterans did extremely well. Not many players have experience on the grass early so this disfavors younger players for the most part. Zverev is a very fine grass court player. (Thiem has come back to reality this year, but still has some hope for the future.)

Clay is a graveyard for geriatrics. All the stats show decline on clay for the older players. This very fact favors the younger players on tour on clay.

Gulbis might be able to put up his best year on clay in 2018 (he'll turn 30 later in the year), but the clock is ticking.:confused: Hopefully the new Gulbis game works well on hard courts which is where for his age he should have more success.
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Re threats on clay vs HC (I left HC out of it) you went in another direction than the one I was looking at. I guess the point I was trying to make was Thiem and AZ have both done better on clay than grass (THiem has beaten Rfa 2x, once prime Rafa when no-one else could beat him whole season, and Zverev won Rome) Rafa has had more competition from the young ones on clay than Fed has had on grass.
Oh yeah, that again ... sorry really it's the only thing anyone talks about around here, except you.
 
I'm still annoyed that loser beat Federer a while back.
Not because Fed lost, but because he doesn't deserve to beat Federer. Not with his personality and his forehand.

I guess I'll have to take solace in the fact that he will always be a damp squib in terms of results.
 
Meles said:
1/2014 QF Doha Hard Rafael Nadal Ernests Gulbis 7-5 6-4 1.19 - 5.57
20/2013 R16 Rome Masters Clay Rafael Nadal Ernests Gulbis 1-6 7-5 6-4 1.11 - 8.36
10/2013 R16 Indian Wells Masters Hard Rafael Nadal Ernests Gulbis 4-6 6-4 7-5 1.38 - 3.40
1/2011 QF Doha Hard Rafael Nadal Ernests Gulbis 7-6(3) 6-3 1.30 - 3.85
17/2010 SF Rome Masters Clay Rafael Nadal Ernests Gulbis 6-4 3-6 6-4 1.05 - 14.80
42/2008 R32 Madrid Masters Hard Rafael Nadal Ernests Gulbis 7-5 3-6 6-3 1.10 - 6.00
26/2008 R64 Wimbledon Grass Rafael Nadal Ernests Gulbis 5-7 6-2 7-6(2) 6-3 1.07 - 7.50

Their history.:rolleyes:

Gulbis is 309 in the live rankings and would have to win Bastad to crack the top 150.:confused: Win in Gstaad would get him to about 65. Win in Kitzbuhel top 50.:eek: This is not really possible even when on the Meles hype train.:D
Click to expand...


Always gives Nadal a tough match, never finishes the job. Interesting match up.

I find his ugly strokes oddly appealing lol. When he's playing attacking tennis he can be a real menace.
 
Poor Ernie. The Meles hype train has a worse record of derailment than Amtrak :oops:

NTSB_aerial_view_of_Bourbonnais_grade_crossing_accident.jpg
<--- Gulbis's career now.
 
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