The Ernests' Earnest Journey Towards Elitism!

[stringertom]

Ernests becoming less earnest about attaining elite status with another 1R slam loss. This time, his head kept him in touch with victory despite a very harsh atmosphere to deal with. That crowd was DC-like and Gulbis 1.0 would have imploded.

Hats off to Kokkinakis...so many huge points won through the last two sets.

 

[stringertom]

250 points on the line today and this week. If he is to earnestly attempt for the elites, The Ernests needs a gut check now.

 

[romeo8880]

He might be worse than isner, and that's saying a lot.

 

[vive le beau jeu !]

250 points on the line today and this week. If he is to earnestly attempt for the elites, The Ernests needs a gut check now.

"The Ernests' Earnest Journey Towards Elitism!"
it seems we're on the return flight at the moment... damned, i hate to come back from holidays. :-|

... and can't wait to take off again !!!

 

[stringertom]

Now 0-4 for the year, 0-6 going back to October. His loss to The Spoiled Princess in Moscow has triggered this earnest attempt at total decline.

 

[moonbat]

I guess I should be happy that I really don't care anymore. Seems like he doesn't either. Oh well, there's always Djoky.

 

[Sysyphus]

So guys. Is he done for good? After RG he will fall like a rock through the rankings..

 

[JRAJ1988]

He has to defend Nice before the French Open also

 

[JRAJ1988]

Gulbis lost again?

 

[TheMusicLover]

Gulbis lost again?

Yeah, in an awful manner. Dished up some 31 UEs in just one set. Double digit # of DFs, too.

 

[Mainad]

Ernie doesn't seem very motivated at the moment. Just going through the motions.

Something happened in his private life, maybe?

 

[Gazelle]

Ernie doesn't seem very motivated at the moment. Just going through the motions.

Something happened in his private life, maybe?

No, he's just bored of tennis, his own forehand in particular.

 

[stringertom]

The Ernests and The Donald are in a yin yang spiral. The E. found himself while the D. occupied the toilet. Now the roles are reversed. Will it soon change???

 

[Gonzalito17]

The target on his back from FO SF last year and the pressure to defend all the points is crushing his spirit.

Tennis is not fun for Gulbis right now.

 

[stringertom]

The target on his back from FO SF last year and the pressure to defend all the points is crushing his spirit.

Tennis is not fun for Gulbis right now.

Maybe a new thread, parallel to the "Does Nadal still enjoy tennis?" piece, is in order???

 

[torpantennis]

Dat FH. The funniest bunt on ATP.

 

[batz]

This was Ernie's 7th straight loss. He last won a match in mid October.

 

[vive le beau jeu !]

The Ernests and The Donald are in a yin yang spiral. The E. found himself while the D. occupied the toilet. Now the roles are reversed. Will it soon change???

can't we have both playing well at the same time ? :-|
(... yin yin ?)

 

[stringertom]

Finally a win in '15 and his first since mid-October '14. The Spoiled Princess curse has been reversed.

 

[romeo8880]

15 aces for Ernests today.

 

[vive le beau jeu !]

miracle !!!

Finally a win in '15 and his first since mid-October '14. The Spoiled Princess curse has been reversed.

didn't he beat the spoiled princess at this same tournament last year ?... it's a sign !

 

[stringertom]

miracle !!!

didn't he beat the spoiled princess at this same tournament last year ?... it's a sign !

Mon dieu! You are correct. It will be tough to close the circle as they can only meet in the final.

Next up possibly is the Spoiled Brat Foginini unless Monsieur Mannarino disposes of him. They just started.

 

[bullfan]

A match between Gulbis and Fognini! Omg, it sure would be explosive. It would be like a soap opera, with the drama!

 

[stringertom]

A match between Gulbis and Fognini! Omg, it sure would be explosive. It would be like a soap opera, with the drama!

Not to be...Mannarino pulls off the mild upset comfortably. Ernests will need some earnestness to beat the lefty, who has had a solid showing since the middle of '14.

 

[bullfan]

Not to be...Mannarino pulls off the mild upset comfortably. Ernests will need some earnestness to beat the lefty, who has had a solid showing since the middle of '14.

And beat Ernests in their previous encounter.

 

[Sysyphus]

Finally a win in '15 and his first since mid-October '14. The Spoiled Princess curse has been reversed.

Delightful! Hopefully Ernests can now pack some form for his siege at RG

 

[stringertom]

And beat Ernests in their previous encounter.

On grass and before the earnest journey began...Queens Club '11.

I've seen The Ernests' worst tennis (vs Djok in '11) and some of his best (vs Nadal '13) at IW. I'll hope for the latter form on Monday.

 

[Ripster]

Gulbis loves the slow hard courts/clay courts. This is his time to make a turnaround.

 

[WildVolley]

I was at the Gimeno-Travers match (2nd round IW).

Gulbis was serving bombs. At one point, GT started returning his serve and Gulbis was down love-40 in the second set. He served three aces in a row to take it to deuce.

He hit a 153mph serve...into the net. But dropped a number in at over 140mph. Mentally he didn't seem too bad. He started complaining about GT delaying in a discussion with the Umpire over some balls, but he didn't have a meltdown.

Still don't know what I think about his forehand, but the backhand was firing.

 

[stringertom]

I was at the Gimeno-Travers match (2nd round IW).

Gulbis was serving bombs. At one point, GT started returning his serve and Gulbis was down love-40 in the second set. He served three aces in a row to take it to deuce.

He hit a 153mph serve...into the net. But dropped a number in at over 140mph. Mentally he didn't seem too bad. He started complaining about GT delaying in a discussion with the Umpire over some balls, but he didn't have a meltdown.

Still don't know what I think about his forehand, but the backhand was firing.

What's not to know about the FH? It's the ugliest stroke in tennis!

 

[Gazelle]

With a proper forehand Gulbis would be beast. That backhand and serve are absolutely world-class.

Damn, I hate seeing talent go to waste.

 

[stringertom]

The Ernests playing dubs too...on court and up an early break with partner Begemann over Giraldo/Rosol.

 

[stringertom]

Firing 10 aces (as a team) The Ernests and Begemann win in straights. Gotta love it!

 

[The_Flying_Vulture]

Finally Ernests shows some signs of life! Now if only he'll be scheduled on a show court. Looking forward to watching Ernests again when thinking he might actually win the match

 

[stringertom]

No life again...Mannarino wins in straights, 4&4. No pressure on the lefty's serve, no success on 2nd serve points. The Ernests is lost in the desert and searching for a formula to rise again like a Phoenix.

 

[Sysyphus]

No life again...Mannarino wins in straights, 4&4. No pressure on the lefty's serve, no success on 2nd serve points. The Ernests is lost in the desert and searching for a formula to rise again like a Phoenix.

This is hopeless stuff, and it doesn't bode well for the rest of the year imo. The clock is ticking by now. Is he injured? Do you guys think he'll find his winning steam from one year ago?

 

[jaggy]

I think the dream is over

 

[ricki]

He is doner... He should hide and not come back (to futures tournaments) until he has standard forehand stroke with some reliability.

 

[Tennis wizard]

How is this guy world number 15 ?

 

[junior74]

50 UEs in 2 sets is not very elitist.

 

[Sysyphus]

50 UEs in 2 sets is not very elitist.

Clearly did it to prove that the match was on his racquet the whole time, and that he was actually the better player, no?

 

[ScentOfDefeat]

Clearly did it to prove that the match was on his racquet the whole time, and that he was actually the better player, no?

Pretty much the definition of elitism. "Even my mistakes are virtuous".

 

[Captain Ron]

Even his UEs are untouchable

 

[tenisdecente]

Ernesto is FINNISH

 

[smoledman]

No Ernesto is destined for ultimate greatness! Multiple CYGS await!

 

[ruerooo]

50 UEs in 2 sets is not very elitist.

It might be plenty elitist - he certainly is - but it's not very elite.

I never liked him. I never understood why anybody did (well, I did, but ...)

No work ethic on that dude. IMO he deserves what he got.

:???:

 

[ricki]

Dont worry, at the end of May he will be somewhere 150 in rankings

 

[junior74]

It's better to make 50 UEs than something like 17, which is really mediocre, I'm sure we all agree.

 

[stringertom]

The Ernests and partner Begemann get a shot at upsetting Wimby champs Pop&Sock today. Good luck there, big E.

 

[The_Flying_Vulture]

I only just heard he doesn't have a coach anymore. Ernests does not seem like a guy who should play for an extended time without a coach :twisted:

I wonder who he'll pick. It will be quite the challenge working on that forehand.