TENNIS 2014 ROLAND GARROS – 30th of May 204. E. Gulbis d. R. Stepanek 6-3, 6-2, 7-5. An interview with Ernests Gulbis
Q. This is the first time in 24 slams you made the second week.
ERNESTS GULBIS: First time in like seven years I have been in this room (laughter) as a participant, not a spectator.
Q. Does it feel like that long?
ERNESTS GULBIS: I’m back.
It is that long. Last time I was playing quarterfinal. That was when I was 18 years old.
Q. How pleased are you with the way you played today?
ERNESTS GULBIS: Today I’m very pleased. Today I served well. He had only one break point. Served, yeah, average, one to two aces a game. Any opponent is going to have trouble with that.
I was surprised he didn’t change up the return a little bit, but, yeah, the serve was working today, so that was the key.
Q. And the fact that you played a tournament and won and came in here, a lot of people think when you win a tournament the week before you’re going to be tired. But is having one day in between the matches the key?
ERNESTS GULBIS: It helps a lot. And also, I was a bit tired when I came here, you know, but I had a tough first set against Kubot. He played well, but I wasn’t just there, you know. It was good that I won the first round.
Every match basically has been better, better physically and better game wise. Today was the best match in this tournament.
Q. Why do you think it has taken you so long to be sitting in that chair again?
ERNESTS GULBIS: You know why (laughter).
Q. Well, maybe you just remind us, me.
ERNESTS GULBIS: Well, I did a lot of bad decisions career wise. Maybe not even just bad decisions, but just not paying too much attention to the things what I do, you know, not paying too much attention how to treat my body, how to practice, how to just overall, you know. Whenever I was in practice, whenever I was on the court or in gym or in the track, I always work hard.
But the things around, surrounded that, the planning, too much up and down, not enough consistent work. Basically last two years it’s been more or less the most consistent work which I did.
Before that, you know, I had consistent, let’s say, three months of work, but then again something happened or I got sick or went to Latvia and took stupid ten days off, you know, by not doing completely nothing.
These kind of decisions, which were just wrong, you know. And now nobody even needs to tell me, tell me this, I know exactly what to do even in my days off, you know. That’s the biggest difference.
Yeah, thankfully it took me not longer time, you know. Basically I jumping in the last train. I’m 25, so this was my last opportunity to be really successful, I think, and I think I have good seven, eight more years to play in the top level.
Q. Lately, and especially today, you have been really focused from first point to last point, no outburst, no racquet smashing, no nothing. Have you worked on it, or is it just coming with the win and the confidence?
ERNESTS GULBIS: Just the way I play. You know, if I play like this, what kind of outburst can be there?
You know, I felt everything good today. You know, I felt physically well. I felt not so much pressure as first two rounds, because the first two rounds I was clearly the favorite. Against Radek, he’s experienced guy, of course I was also the favorite, but not so clearly. It takes a little bit the pressure out.
So I didn’t feel that much pressure. I felt relaxed. Next round if I play my chance, if I play Roger, it’s going to be even less pressure and I think I’m going to feel even less relaxed and play even better.
It’s always like this with me.
Q. When you think back to the times of bad decisions, do you regret that or do you think it’s something you needed to go through?
ERNESTS GULBIS: I don’t regret it at all, because I think in a way I’m in a better position. Maybe not as a tennis player but as a person. Because I have been through up and down.
Most of the guys who are on top now, they haven’t been a lot in down. They haven’t went back from playing quarterfinal from a Grand Slam asking for a wildcard in a challenger and not getting it, you know, playing qualifying in a challenger, you know.
And the attitude, how it changes a lot, from everybody, you know, from the working stuff, you know, from the tournament, from the referees, from everything, you know.
And I saw it. So now nothing can really, you know, blur my mind and my vision, you know. I’m not going to be now suddenly, you know, friends with everybody, you know.
I saw the tough picture, you know. People like success. You know, okay. So I know everything about it. So I think in a way I’m in a better position.
Q. You have two younger sisters that play tennis, as well. Are they going to be as good as you? When was the last time you played with hem?
ERNESTS GULBIS: Hopefully they will not pursue professional tennis career. Hopefully. Because for a woman, it’s tough. I wouldn’t like my sisters to become professional tennis players. It’s tough choice of life.
A woman needs to enjoy life a little bit more. Needs to think about family, needs to think about kids. What kids you can think about until age of 27 if you’re playing professional tennis, you know.
That’s tough for a woman, I think.
