Is Gulbis Sliding Back To Mediocrity?

I wouldn’t say it’s sliding back to mediocrity so much as it’s more of the same. He’s a talented, but streaky and follows up big wins with surprising losses.

Well maybe Jan Hajek is working hard too. Now he gets to play Fed.

Gulbis is having a pretty good year, IMO, as long have you have realistic expectations for him.

Hajek, who played his 5th match, looked tired against Federer who struggles with his game. He’s testing a new bigger racket in Hamburg. Gulbis can kick himself that he missed that chance.

Hajek played different when he outplayed the big serving Brands in Düsseldorf in 2 sets. He reached the Quarters, but lost in next round. Because of the match against Brands, I was aware that Hajek won’t be an easy opponent for Gulbis. Any qualifier can be tricky.

Gulbis recently said he wanted to give it a big push and see what he could do, almost like he was thinking of giving it up. He needs to realize the real test is making a big push for maybe four straight years, not just a few months.

I wonder if Sampras’ switch to a Pure Storm a few years back influenced him.

It’s not just losing to Hajek and Haas. What big match has Gulbis won all year? Beating Qkid in Delray? What’s the furthest he’s gone in a slam? He’s good, but he’s not big time.

24-11 is a solid record, but can’t disagree – some “not great losses” there. Verdasco is no slouch, but the straight set win at Wimbledon? Hard to explain that one – Gulbis needed to dig in. The recent loss at least was in 3, and though it played out on an irrelevant surface for tennis’ final slam, raises some questions in the desire department – that’s a Marcelo Rios “don’t feel like playing” result. Querrey? Maybe – I like JP’s hunch, not sure where the commitment is. The hardcourts should give him a boost.

Steve’s got it down on Gulbis, Gasquet. Gasquet’s not losing easily. Dan’s right on Gulbis too – I can’t discount Gulbis’ wins, but he has a huge question mark. That said I think the hardcourts will boost him, at least until Canada and Cincy Masters, his first tests.

As for the DY loss to Sandgren, it is not so good. I pretty much put my faith in whether he has a good coach or not. Ever since the Youngs and Mike Sell parted, it’s been a turn down the rankings. The future is in Donald Young’s hands. Best thing he can do: give Mike Sell a call and stick with him.

Roger Smith seems pretty solid. I’m just not sure why there is so much faith in not just bad, but awful results. Is Donald Young trying new things? Is he losing close matches? Lost to Sock in 2. Lost to Velotti in 2. Lost to Somdev, a nice player, in 3. Lost to Berrer. Lost to Harrison in two. Lost to Arguello in two. He’s won some matches in between, but it’s the losses that worry me: these aren’t competitive losses.

Anyways, so much for a theory. When Federer was struggling and then working to get his way back, he was losing in extremely close matches – clawing his way back into the groove. It was ugly in 2008, when Federer was sick, got destroyed in the French Open final, got beat finally at Wimbledon in a devastating loss, and then fought his way through to the US Open title. He was “winning ugly” – doing new things, trying new stuff, trying out a new drop shot – just doing uncomfortable things. When you get better at that stuff, you lose but you lose while competing in a new way.

So who knows. Parents can certainly be excellent stroke doctors and provide some top notch coaching – look no further than the man who considers me tennis most ignorant person on earth, J. Pierce. Hingis’ mom was quite the master technician. Same goes for Seles’ dad. Andy Murray’s mom – quite a move be her to bring Lendl on board (and probably recognize that however great she is as a coach, Andy needed someone who was even better). Oracene Price, who had a subtle appreciation for the Williams’ games as well as their psyche and no doubt new how to motivate them.

Though I can’t speak for who’s in Donald Young’s ear, I can say that based on the results Donald Young and his parents have to bring in someone who is a team player and brings the whole level up. I think it’s obviously too hard to ask the Young family to just defer to some coach – this hasn’t worked before and when it does it’s for something like a half year then gone. Someone’s got to make that team work so that Donald Young gets the training he needs to improve in ways that make him stronger and better able to make use of those immense talents on court, and also to work with the family to bring in some patterns that bring that game into focus. I think the question here is one of support.

But anyhows, I have been on this kick for a while. I think any player doing well these days has some great forces in their player box. Look no further than Andy Murray, Novak Djokovic, Federer, Nadal – those guys have an entourage that surpasses anything that former champs had, Agassi and the J Block included (Sampras is even part of Team Federer on occasion when he’s rooting from the player’s box). It’s so clear that if you are the player, you need to be able to look in your box and see that everyone there came for you, so that you can give the game everything you got, as often as you can, and not curse the game for not owing up to your expectations.

Wishful thinking. Maybe the Young family will read this, maybe they’re already working on things. I just want to see this guy do well and I think it’s obviously only if everyone is doing well and the “credit” issue stays at bay. Everyone has to know their part. Notice Lendl….he never even speaks. That is one confidant guy as he was probably the missing piece to a tricky situation. I think the Youngs have to find that guy. I’m sure he already exists.

(I think it’s Spadea because he’s grown up in a similar kind of tennis-focused family and because he knows Young and knows his game and knows how players perceive it, and then some trainer like a Gil Reyes who can help Young push himself through new exercise that maximize his agility, ability to scramble, and make great gets).

Again, 2 cents from a fan.

Sorry to hi-jack this thread but Fognini is having a great year. Before Monte Carlo I was expecting big things and Scoop told me its time for Fognini to do something big and he beat Berdych and Gasquet in straights. His winning ways have continued. Winning a final over Kohls and today beating Haas in straights.

He’s already played in some of the most memorable matches I’ve ever seen I hope he can continue winning though he’s had no answers against Fed.

Scoop partner can play 1pm – 3pm today. Email me which place. I’d say whichever place gives us the best change to get a court.