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Gulbis explains coach qualities he’s looking for
10 Comments · Posted by Scoop Malinowski in Bios
“I’ve thought about [my coaching situation] a little bit before the (Roland Garros) tournament,†said the suddenly rejuvenated Ernests Gulbis, who is looking for a coach who can focus on him exclusively after parting ways with Gunter Bresnik. “I’m searching for not so much a tactical coach, but more of a technical coach, because I’m the kind of player who has problems maintaining his game and maintaining his shots clean.â€
The streaky 27-year-old Gulbis is now ranked No. 80 in the world and first reached the Top 10 in June 2014 after a SF run in Paris. For the last two years since his Paris success (where he lost to Djokovic in the SF) Gulbis has struggled suffering several painful losses to younger players which have overshadowed his previous terrific results including a win over Roger Federer on clay in Rome in 2010 as well as a perfect 6-0 record in ATP finals. Now into the fourth round at Roland Garros where he will play David Goffin, Gulbis has a strong sense of what is required to optimize his results.
“If I don’t have a racquet in hand for a couple of days, I suddenly start to hit my forehand differently. So I need a coach to see those small changes. Tactically, I think my game is pretty uncomfortable for most of the guys, if I serve big and if I hit the ball big. So I think mostly I need to concentrate on my own technique and to make sure my own shots are clean.â€
Gulbis doesn’t believe his best option is trying the “super coach” route of selecting a former ATP World No. 1 or a Grand Slam champion.
“To be honest, I don’t necessarily think that a former player, no matter how good he is, is necessarily a good coach. I think that a good coach needs to have experience.
“I like that Gunter had a lot of experience, especially in the technical side of the game, because he spent probably one of the most hours on court of all the coaches on tour. He taught kids, he taught right-handed players, left-handed players, serve and volley, baseliners, juniors, and older players. So his understanding of the game is very big. This is what I liked in his experience.
“If you take a former player, they always look at the game from their perspective. They understand what they did, but can’t always give you solutions for fixing your game. I think if one thing doesn’t work, you have to have a backup plan. And not just one or two, but many of them. This is what I’m searching for in a coach.â€
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Dan Markowitz · May 29, 2016 at 1:05 pm
Look, Spadea is a technician. The guy knows a tremendous amount about the forehand. He even did a TC special less on the forehand. If I were Gulbis, or Izzie or Sock, for that matter, I’d give Spadea a feeler. I’m not saying hire him, because Vince is a complex guy, and he might not even want to travel as a coach and that of course won’t work with a top-ranked guy, not that Gulbis is a top-ranked guy anymore.
If I were a Jamere Jackson or a Ernesto Escobedo or a Kozlov, I’d hire Vince as a consultant, work with him in LA (he’s not going to charge you anything. He wants to work on bonuses for when players reach ranking goals) and have another coach travel with them or more likely a friend.
Thomas Tung · May 29, 2016 at 2:19 pm
Just caught the tail end of the Gasquet-Nishikori match; looked like Kei was mentally drained in that one! Good win for Gasquet (and coach Sergi Bruguera).
Dan Markowitz · May 29, 2016 at 5:44 pm
You wonder now if Kei can ever get back to a slam finals to say nothing of ever winning a slam. Gasquet’s been playing great, but you’d think that Kei would handle him and he just doesn’t ever seem to play big in slams at the business end.
Scoop Malinowski · May 29, 2016 at 7:12 pm
Gasquet is stepping up – Kyrgios was blown away by how Richard played and said RG played “incredible” tennis – now this win over Kei – Gasquet might be making his Wawrinka move right now – he has a good record vs Wawrinka and has to be thinking ‘Hey if he can do it so can i’ – Gasquet has a bad record vs Djokovic but who knows what happens if he beats Andy – Gasquet is showing he could shock the world –
Gans · May 30, 2016 at 12:07 am
Come on, Gasquet! Time has come. I always liked him as a pkayer. Very nice and consummate professional. He plays fair and takes the loss as is. On any other times, I would have wishesd him or anyone good luck. But I am at a point…am simply biased towards Djokovic winning the FO at least once. Hope it is this year. I know, I am not being fair! Love to see RG step up in RG!!
Hartt · May 30, 2016 at 10:52 am
Every once in a while Gasquet comes to life, and it looks like this is one of those times. I was rooting for Kei, but have to admit it is great for the French fans to have one of their guys doing well at RG.
Scoop Malinowski · May 30, 2016 at 12:25 pm
Gasquet is more interesting than Kei – To his huge credit Kei has been a great overachiever but with Gasquet there is a sense that he’s been a disappointing underachiever – from when he first burst on the scene with that electrifying 76 in the third set battle with Federer in monte carlo as a teenager there still is a sense that Gasquet has never played his very very best tennis yet – maybe we are about to see it and that’s exciting –
Gans · May 30, 2016 at 1:50 pm
My expectation is that the road ends at the Quarters. Murray to win in four. I will be happy to be wrong though.
Harold · May 30, 2016 at 2:07 pm
Always liked Gasquet’s game. His fh and movement have kept him from winning Masters and Majors. The big 5 in his way didnt help. His OCD’s issues make him interesting to watch.
Think Gasquet could rise to the occassion and somehow beat Murray and Wawa. Then the moment will be too great and he will lose 2,2 and 2 to Djoko. Would still be a great run, but French torture.
Bryan · May 30, 2016 at 2:21 pm
Gulbis vs Goffin was rained out so now it’s tomorrow 2nd on court so probably 4 or 5am PST. Guess I’ll have to record it. Good to see him make a run but it’ll be surprising if he wins. He was about to get smoked by Tsonga before the hip injury.
Gulbis’ technique will always be flawed. His wonky forehand breaks down under pressure. At 27 I’m not sure he can revamp the technical flaws without tanking his game even further. Still it’s good he switched coaches. As he said, now is not the time to be his coach’s #2 or #3 priority.