Gulbis Wins First Title

AP

Ivo Karlovic observed his 31st birthday yesterday, but he didn't have much to celebrate. Ernests Gulbis, all potential and inconsistency, brought out his best tennis and slayed the giant 6-2, 6-3 to win his first ATP title on his first try at the Delray Beach International Tennis Championships.

It wasn't as close as the score.

All week, Gulbis' talent was on full display. In the final, he frustrated the Croat with return winners off first serves, unreturnable bombs of his own, cannonball passing shots, and drop shots out of nowhere. Dr. Ivo faced such of barrage, he was found slicing his backhand into the court right in front of his feet more times than he cared to count.

Ever since he tore Tommy Robredo a new one at the 2007 US Open in a performance that earned him a Gonad and a whole lot of expectant fans, the inconsistent and temperamental Latvian has been on a mission of mediocrity. He had trouble winning two matches in a row for much of last year, but he comes out this week and takes his first title without dropping a set. The first man from Latvia to win an ATP title.

“Everything what I do now is first time for my country,” he said after the match. “Of course it’s great. I hope it’s positive. I hope much more players will start to practise in Latvia. It’s good for tennis in Latvia. They see that a guy from Latvia also can make it and win an ATP World Tour event.”

Maybe it's the new Afro, but Gulbis looks as though he may be ready for his close up.

Let's see what he brings to Indian Wells.

"Everything Hurts."

(Photo: AFP)

I try hard with Davis Cup, I really do.

And I had what likely constitutes more than my fair share of coverage this weekend with both the Spain/Israel tie and the GB/Poland zonal play off on offer.

Still it seems some things are simply not meant to be.

Spain are through to the finals 3-0. But it's the other finalists that had the more interesting route through, one which unfortunately wasn't on my schedule.

The Czech Republic also came through in straights against Croatia, but the big story was of course that now infamous match involving Radek Stepanek putting in almost 'I am Legend' like levels of resistance opposite a record breaking barrage of 78 aces from Ivo Karlovic, in a match that lasted 5 hours and 59 minutes. One of the longest ever in Davis Cup history.

I'd have liked to have seen this one. Obviously.

But what I'm more keen to understand is, how that even happened.

Just how does one claim the equivalent of nearly 20 games worth of free points, yet still go on to lose the match?

I know, I know, Radek wormed his way through the key points.

But doesn't being made to withstand such a frenzied assault place a unique set of demands on your psyche?

Imagine if you will, the thoughts circling through the head of a man, standing there to receive serve, chastened by the knowledge that any efforts he might dare to expend at reading his opponents serve, are more or less in vain.

Chastened by the knowledge, that Ivo's serve, surely one of the most bankable tennis resources ever, will almost certainly secure him the first break.

Chastened by the knowledge that such a break will in all likelihood cede the entire set.

You can normally only weather that type of an assault for a couple of sets.

Ivo was clearly having a good serving day, even by his 'lofty' standards; and that normally signals tie breaks. Tie breaks that should in theory, also break the spirit of all but the most resolute, or the most brash of players.

I'm thinking Radek's indefatigable brand of brashness must now be approaching immeasurable levels on the Richter Scale of insolence.

It's an imprecise art getting into your opponents head, but one in which he seems uniquely blessed.

Ivo's verdict? "Everything hurts".

2Hander's Take: The Quarters

Federer V Karlovic

In many ways, this was Federer at his best. Clinical, doing just enough to take a set, i.e. one break of serve. Apart from the last set where Jeff Goldblum (i.e. The Tall Guy - sorry, late 1980s joke) went all out with his serving (actually, so did Fed) to force a tie-break, which Fed took fairly comfortably.

At times the match just seemed to roll through service games, although there were flashes of brilliance from Fed. Actually, the commentators showed that the key was Federer stepping in by about a half a metre to take the Karlovic serve early - seems as though it worked, job done.
It did show that our Swiss friend did what Djokovic could not today...handle a serve and volleyer - more on that one later. Next, in fact...

Djokovic V Haas

During this match, I coined a new phrase for the 4th seed and it was after he lost the 2nd set breaker despite being 6-3 up. Wanna know what it is? Are you ready...Chokovic!! And get this, after the 2nd set, Nole made some sort of gesture to his camp and they then disappeared!! Dunno what that was all about! Anybody...?

Anyway, Haas is reproducing the form that got him to the 2007 AO semis and the Indian Wells semis soon afterwards. He played fantastically, rushing to the net, great volleying and a SICK SHBH (See Top? Another one...). I am very pleased for him as he looks as though he will trouble Federer more than Chokovic would have. Just goes to show that the net is still key to success at Wimby.

However, he will have to exorcise the odd demon after RG - nuff said! Then again, the way Fed is playing is that he is King Roger and Wimby is his palace!

Murray V Ferrero

JCF was out of his depth as soon as the first set was over, I felt. However, he was well in the rallies with fairly deep and solid groundstrokes. Then Murray would, at will, crack a backhand winner down the line. A fantastic shot, so it is. His forehand cross-court was also doing the biz. He plays (a probably knackered!) Andy Roddick, who I don't think will take more than a set off him - unless Andy M melts down...which I doubt.

Hewitt V Roddick

Definitely the more thrilling match with a lot of intense end-to-end rallies. High quality groundstrokes from both with Roddick coming to the net more and Hewitt showing his grit from the baseline.
Again I saw a shot at court level of a serve by Andy Roddick where he fired a serve down the middle, Lleyton didn't even move a muscle! Rather reminiscent of the Murray-Roddick match again at Wimby (2006 I think) when Top and I were watching a similar shot at court level of the Roddick serve. Once again, his opponent didn't move a muscle and we were laughing - dunno why. It was something like "I ain't even gonna bother beginning to attempt to get that serve back!!".

TBH, I got a bit fed-up of this match by the time it got to the 5th set and I went off to do something else. Turns out Roddick got a break of serve and took it 6-4. Both, who were rivals at their peak, played at their current peaks which, although ain't Slam winning stuff, was still of a very high standard. The Aussie did well, hats off to him.

So, I guess it hasn't been that bad without Nadal, has it...?

Roll on the lasses and then...Super Friday!! COME ON!!! (Lleyton Hewitt style)