Nadal vs Gulbis thread

[invisiblecoolers]

A Champion vs extreme underdog, but we all know when Gulbis turns up he could turn up big, the big Lativian for some years considered as the next big hope [he is still not that old 24] has never fulfilled the GOD given talent. He played a great match against Rafa in 2010 at the very same venue and could have easily won had Rafa been slightly out of his best.

With threads raising questions which version of Rafa is better, I guess tomorrow's match holds a key to those answers, if the Lativian takes down Rafa tomorrow I guess the question is answered by itself.

To add more, I don't see this Rafa as intimidating as he used to be in 2008-2010, if the same Gulbis who turned up against Victor [or the Gulbis of 2010 Rome] I won't be surprised if Rafa goes down tomorrow. Rafa's return is very deceiving, yes his stats for the year is stunning but he has lost so many sets which on normal years would have been very shocking, could have easily lost IW to Del Potro.

Who thinks this match could be close affair?

I looked at the odds at Bet365 and here you go Nadal is marked as a stern favorite with 7 times the money on Gulbis to win the match and 5.50 to win the 1st set. Bet365 bookies expecting a straight set thrashing on Gulbis.

I see this as another case of Rafa's stats be so deceiving and I expect Gulbis to take the match much closer than expected, if some how he pulls the 1st set off he might even go on to pull the biggest upset of his career.

I am going for Gulbis to win 6-4 6-4.

[lydian]

No chance.

[laverfan]

Gulbis did push Nadal at IW (albeit on green clay) not red clay. He is quite temperamental and fickle. Depends on what game he brings tomorrow.

He has beaten Federer @Rome 2010.

Good match to look forward to, if talented Gulbis does turn up.

[antonico]

Their H2H reads 5-0 in favor of Nadal. That said, Gulbis took a set from Nadal in their only match on clay, ironically in Rome 2010. Gulbis has all the talent. Just not the mind to match his game. He confessed he only recently gave up smoking. Also says that a lot of guys ranked above him "can't play tennis". I presume he means they can't play as well as he does. The commentary on his match today shows a score that looks like he just pulverized Troicki. But Troicki had a huge meltdown with the umpire over an out call, and mentally fried after that. Gulbis only got 53% of his First Serves in. If he has designs on beating Nadal tomorrow he won't go anywhere with a percentage like that.

[socal1976]

Good post Antonico, I also don't see Gulbis beating Nadal however the guy does have a backhand that can hold up to Nadal's spin and I think that Ernsts weird looking forehand does better on a clay court where he has a bit more time for his swing.

On the smoking issue I think ernie definitely lights up, but I don't think it is cigarettes. Does the ATP test for weed, because if they do they should get Ernie tested. It is a shame because I honestly think the athleticism and raw talent he has if harnessed and disciplined would have seen him be one of the best.

[invisiblecoolers]

As long as he doesn't go to those areas before match which we know he does in between tournaments then he does stand a fair chance against this Rafa tomorrow.

[invisiblecoolers]

I pray GOD just for Socal's sake Nadal win it comfortably tomorrow against Gulbis.

[break_in_the_fifth]

Got £1 on Gulbis to win.

[socal1976]

I pray GOD just for Socal's sake Nadal win it comfortably tomorrow against Gulbis.

When will you get over your obsession with me, I know that walrus meat and Molson's beer can get old fast but you really need to find a new hobby.

[LuvSports!]

5-0!!! COME ON GULBIS!

[socal1976]

Have you ever seen anything like this in how Gulbis is just manhandling. He is blasting everything, why does Nadal keep hitting at his backhand, he was doing the same thing at IW? Damn it got to go to work. Set point

[Silver]

Has Nadal ever been bagelled on clay aside from that one Federer match years back? This is insane.

[The Special Juan]

Choke! Choke! Choke!

[The Special Juan]

The funny thing is, I can't tell who's side the crowd are on. You'd expect them to be on Nadal's side but they're cheering Gulbis just as loudly.

[lydian]

This is ridiculous stuff, Gulbis is in GOD mode.
He's literally smacking anything and everything and its all going in.

[The Special Juan]

Look at how far Nadal is standing behind the baseline on the returns. He's pretty much in Milos Raonic territory. Gulbis is playing very well though. Someone tell him to turn his aimbot off.

[kingraf]

Nadal wont lose, though.

[break_in_the_fifth]

Have you ever seen anything like this in how Gulbis is just manhandling. He is blasting everything, why does Nadal keep hitting at his backhand, he was doing the same thing at IW? Damn it got to go to work. Set point

That's all he's ever done.

[lydian]

Yep, firing to his best wing isn't that wise. He should target the seed-plough FH. The challenge for Gulbis is realising the top5 talent he has inside him mentally.

[The Special Juan]

How many languages does Mohamed Lahyani speak?

[HM Murdock]

If you could transplant the work ethic of someone like Andy into Gulbis, you'd have a heck of a player.

[socal1976]

I don't want to leave this Gulbis match. Oh well I will have to wait to find out what happens tonight. Bo5th that is the one thing about Nadal he doesn't change his patterns to fit his opponent, is it stubbornness?

[socal1976]

If you could transplant the work ethic of someone like Andy into Gulbis, you'd have a heck of a player.

David Ferrer's work ethic into ernest Gulbis and you get an all time legend. Andy also though, he brings it in his training.

[CAS]

if you could combine the work ethic of David Ferrer and the talent of Ernests Gulbis that player would have like 17 odd slams and 300+ weeks at number 1 or something....!

[HM Murdock]

This is exactly what I was saying the other day. THIS is how you should approach a match v Rafa! Just go for it, there's nothing to lose. Redline everything and just see what happens.

Win or lose, Ernie has come here looking to take Rafa down. And for that he has my respect.

[CAS]

every time you think Gulbis is just about to crack and Rafa is about to stick his foot in the door before it closes, Ernie just his an outrageous winner to remind Rafa, 'I'm not going to give this to you today'

[The Special Juan]

What's Gulbis like physically? Can he potentially go 3 sets with this man on clay?

[JuliusHMarx]

What's Gulbis like physically? Can he potentially go 3 sets with this man on clay?

Bet he's glad he gave up smoking

[HM Murdock]

What's Gulbis like physically? Can he potentially go 3 sets with this man on clay?

Poor. If it goes to a third, I can't see anything but a Rafa win.

[CAS]

What's Gulbis like physically? Can he potentially go 3 sets with this man on clay?

Gulbis should be fine because he is pulling the trigger quite early on so there hasn't been a lot of long rallies. I do think he needs to win it in 2 though purely because when the top guys sink their teeth in like a pitbull they have lockjaw

[kingraf]

TSJ- I think three he is physically capable of three sets, if this was a fiver, then I would doubt, but can his mind deal with this when it starts becoming a reality?

[The Special Juan]

Thanks for the replies (some of them very different!!). So he can go to 3 with Nadal if he's not drawn into long, long rallies but in the end it might be his mental side rather than his physical side which lets him down?

[lags72]

Even with the score poised as it is right now, I personally wouldn't put more than a pound/dollar/euro on a Gulbis victory here ........

But good to see him putting in a proper challenge - unlike so many others higher up the rankings.

[HM Murdock]

in the end it might be his mental side rather than his physical side which lets him down?

I think this probably applies to Gulbis' life in general!

[break_in_the_fifth]

32 winners to 8 as if Gulbis is going to lose now. This just isn't tennis!

[CAS]

what I like about players like Gulbis is they do actually think they can win, they may have ups and downs but they walk on the court thinking "I can beat you"
Janowicz has that feeling about him as well

[HM Murdock]

what I like about players like Gulbis is they do actually think they can win, they may have ups and downs but they walk on the court thinking "I can beat you"
Janowicz has that feeling about him as well

I agree wholeheartedly.

This is why we really need a new generation to come through. The current crop have too much baggage against the top guys now, they've all been tamed.

[Silver]

My word, that was pure clutch to save 3 set points. Fantastic effort.

[CAS]

the problem I think they have is they know how good they are where they are almost bored when they play lesser player and cannot be bothered. As good as they are they are susceptible to a first round loss to a qualifier where they are almost vacant, give them a challenge and they come to play

[bogbrush]

Is this the Nadal who is better than ever?

[JuliusHMarx]

Good typo!

[HM Murdock]

Is this the Nadal who is wetter than ever?

Freudian typo?

[kingraf]

Nadal typically struggles against Gulbis. He dropped a set to him in '08 and '10 so its the the wrong match to claim he is "wetter" than ever.

[The Special Juan]

Good match this. Best clay court match I've seen a good while.

[HM Murdock]

Does Gulbis wear lipstick or is it just a strange photo on the ATP site?

[bogbrush]

Oh boy, good typo there!

[kingraf]

What odds can i get on a bagel third set? I have 50 pounds and Im feeling lucky!!

[lags72]

Go for it !

[kingraf]

I'm going to do it!!! Yeah baby!!!

[kingraf]

I'll wait for Gulbis' serve though, if he loses it, Im going for it!!!

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