‘Old-school’ Ernests Gulbis on books, opera, Einstein...

[djarvik]

http://tennis.si.com/2014/05/20/ernests ... interview/

[Uchiha Muss]

If too many people like it, I start to worry if it’s really good. Because the really good stuff — it takes a little bit of effort to watch or read

Damn son, deep stuff. Those books he is reading are doing wonders.

[Lucian86]

Definitely a character but I smell a little bit of snobbery.

[djarvik]

I'll take that. If I would be as rich as him, I would be the snobbiest SOB you have seen.

[Corbon]

Gulbis still unbeaten in finals! Wins in Nice vs Delbonis.

[djarvik]

Best thing about the match: Gulbis won 1 service game via 4 perfect drop shots

Unbeatable in finals.

[Cro Morgan]

I've never lost an ATP final either. Just saying.

[djarvik]

Found the video. Never been done before.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KOaNYNGAI24

[Cro Morgan]

Announcer: "Very cheeky from Ernests Gulbis."

[Corbon]

That last chip was amazing.

[Moralspain]

Found the video. Never been done before.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KOaNYNGAI24

Am I crazy or this guy has changed his FH motion????

[Lucian86]

Am I crazy or this guy has changed his FH motion????

You didn't know ? yeah, he did...he said he didn't know how to hit a forehand anymore so he had to start over.
That's an ugly motion there. Very weird. Anyway, he's still nice to watch all-round player

[djarvik]

ohh its not that bad, just unorthodox. When it works it is rather pleasing to the eye and a hell for the opponent to read.

He went from this:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UJG00aKsvDg
- Not a bad looking forehand, but flawed. The take-back is OK, but then it starts to be a bit shaky. Note the pronounced "L" as opposed to a nice "C"

To this:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rQ3S3oPEd14#t=26
- Still the "L" motion but with slightly lesser pause and more take back, spin and follow through. More "brushing" on the ball where before he had more of a "head on" collision.

It sure works better on the clay courts, but I think on grass and faster courts the slower, more deliberate take-back robbing him of some time.

He also needs to improve timing on it and foot work. He sometimes does not position himself proper for the bigger windup and ends up falling backwards a bit. This should iron itself out with time, after all, he completely changed the FH motion mid career. These things take time to settle in.

....but his moving forward on short balls is fantastic now, where with previous motion he would NET a ton of easy mid court balls.

Whatever he did with his FH, it was the right thing to do. It makes him more focused on "present", execution of the shot, as opposed to "thinking ahead" of the shots and NET-ing tons of easy shots. To me THAT is the main difference between Gulbis now and Gulbis before - the put-aways. Once you hit a few easy shots - confidence follows...

[Corbon]

It looks so ugly, it's like he is using his left arm to magically slow down the ball. He also keeps his left arm up for a long time on serve. High ball toss. He is one of the better servers though, especially his 2nd one is quite powerful.

[Moralspain]

I agree with you about Gulbis being a great server, had the chance to see him in Barcelona (Godo), and it's impressive the power and accuracy of his 2nd serve