Ernests Gulbis has plenty of reason to smile after his victory over Nieminin.
DELRAY BEACH, U.S — Ernests “The Gull” Gulbis has qualified for his first ever ATP event final, on the back of a comprehensive semi-final victory over Finn, Jarko Nieminin.
Gulbis’ tantalizing form that he has shown in the past two weeks continued overnight, defeating Nieminin in straight sets 6-4, 6-4. Gulbis was well aware of the potential of his opponent who is currently on the road back from recovery. He had shown [private_supervisor]good form to make the semifinal, knocking out no. 3 seed German Benjamin Becker in the quarters. However, Gulbis was obviously smarting from falling at the semi-final stage last week and was not about to make the same mistakes this week.
In the first set Gulbis was able to break his opponent on one occasion on the way to quickly taking the set 6-4. Nieminen had his chances in the second, breaking Gulbis early, only for the Latvian to reply by breaking the Finn twice. Rain then threatened to break Gulbis’s momentum with the score in his favor at 5-4. The players were forced off the court for over three hours but when they returned Gulbis showed his concentration had not wavered, holding his serve to take the set and the match 6-4, 6-4. Gulbis is yet to drop a set this week.
Gulbis has been impressed by his own form of late, putting much of it down to an improved level of concentration.
“I feel like I am more mentally strong than I was in the past,” Gulbis told the press after post-match.
At time of writing his opponent in the final is yet to be found but it will either be American Mardy Fish or Croat Ivo Karlović. By making the final is sure to see the Latvian move near the world top 50 and will also boost his confidence ahead of Davis Cup action next week, when Latvia will take on Ukraine. [/private_supervisor] [private_subscription 1 month]good form to make the semifinal, knocking out no. 3 seed German Benjamin Becker in the quarters. However, Gulbis was obviously smarting from falling at the semi-final stage last week and was not about to make the same mistakes this week.
In the first set Gulbis was able to break his opponent on one occasion on the way to quickly taking the set 6-4. Nieminen had his chances in the second, breaking Gulbis early, only for the Latvian to reply by breaking the Finn twice. Rain then threatened to break Gulbis’s momentum with the score in his favor at 5-4. The players were forced off the court for over three hours but when they returned Gulbis showed his concentration had not wavered, holding his serve to take the set and the match 6-4, 6-4. Gulbis is yet to drop a set this week.
Gulbis has been impressed by his own form of late, putting much of it down to an improved level of concentration.
“I feel like I am more mentally strong than I was in the past,” Gulbis told the press after post-match.
At time of writing his opponent in the final is yet to be found but it will either be American Mardy Fish or Croat Ivo Karlović. By making the final is sure to see the Latvian move near the world top 50 and will also boost his confidence ahead of Davis Cup action next week, when Latvia will take on Ukraine.[/private_subscription 1 month] [private_subscription 4 months]good form to make the semifinal, knocking out no. 3 seed German Benjamin Becker in the quarters. However, Gulbis was obviously smarting from falling at the semi-final stage last week and was not about to make the same mistakes this week.
In the first set Gulbis was able to break his opponent on one occasion on the way to quickly taking the set 6-4. Nieminen had his chances in the second, breaking Gulbis early, only for the Latvian to reply by breaking the Finn twice. Rain then threatened to break Gulbis’s momentum with the score in his favor at 5-4. The players were forced off the court for over three hours but when they returned Gulbis showed his concentration had not wavered, holding his serve to take the set and the match 6-4, 6-4. Gulbis is yet to drop a set this week.
Gulbis has been impressed by his own form of late, putting much of it down to an improved level of concentration.
“I feel like I am more mentally strong than I was in the past,” Gulbis told the press after post-match.
At time of writing his opponent in the final is yet to be found but it will either be American Mardy Fish or Croat Ivo Karlović. By making the final is sure to see the Latvian move near the world top 50 and will also boost his confidence ahead of Davis Cup action next week, when Latvia will take on Ukraine.[/private_subscription 4 months] [private_subscription 1 year]good form to make the semifinal, knocking out no. 3 seed German Benjamin Becker in the quarters. However, Gulbis was obviously smarting from falling at the semi-final stage last week and was not about to make the same mistakes this week.
In the first set Gulbis was able to break his opponent on one occasion on the way to quickly taking the set 6-4. Nieminen had his chances in the second, breaking Gulbis early, only for the Latvian to reply by breaking the Finn twice. Rain then threatened to break Gulbis’s momentum with the score in his favor at 5-4. The players were forced off the court for over three hours but when they returned Gulbis showed his concentration had not wavered, holding his serve to take the set and the match 6-4, 6-4. Gulbis is yet to drop a set this week.
Gulbis has been impressed by his own form of late, putting much of it down to an improved level of concentration.
“I feel like I am more mentally strong than I was in the past,” Gulbis told the press after post-match.
At time of writing his opponent in the final is yet to be found but it will either be American Mardy Fish or Croat Ivo Karlović. By making the final is sure to see the Latvian move near the world top 50 and will also boost his confidence ahead of Davis Cup action next week, when Latvia will take on Ukraine.[/private_subscription 1 year]
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