TENNIS US OPEN – 29th of August 2014. D. Thiem d. E. Gulbis 4-6, 3-6, 6-4, 6-3, 6-3. An interview with Ernests Gulbis
Q. You seemed to have the match under total control for more than two sets. What happened then? You obviously injured yourself?
ERNESTS GULBIS: No, no, it wasn’t an injury. I started to have cramps. I thought that I pulled a muscle in the end of the third set, but I didn’t pull it. It was just really tight, all the hip area. So after that it was just a struggle. It was simply a struggle. I couldn’t play anymore. That’s it.
Q. If it was against anyone else, do you think you would have retired?
ERNESTS GULBIS: I think it would be more clear that I retire against him, save his energy, because he’s my friend. But I don’t like to retire if I can finish the match, you know. Doesn’t matter. The score is that I lost the match, not that I retired, because I lost the match.
Q. Was it difficult to play against him?
ERNESTS GULBIS: Yeah. I thought that it’s not going to be so difficult, but mentally it was difficult. We were both really nervous throughout the match, I think. We both couldn’t play far from our best tennis. I mean, the level we play in practice is much higher than we did today. I mean, you saw also first two sets, 4-All or 5-4. He serve double-fault; he missed easy balls. Yeah, this was not a nice game. But he showed character, so it’s really good. So it’s good for him.
Q. When did you cramp up? Late in the third set?
ERNESTS GULBIS: Late in the third I thought that I pulled something. That’s why I took the medical timeout. Then I started to cramp afterwards.
Q. Pulled in your back or upper leg?
ERNESTS GULBIS: Pulled hamstring. Because I had this injury once. It was in Paris couple years ago when I retired against Benneteau. I felt something slightly similar.
Q. Do you have something positive after this match?
ERNESTS GULBIS: Positive is that Dominic is in the third round. He has an okay draw, so I wish him the best. For me? What is positive for me? I lost. I’m going home. Nothing positive for me.
Q. Did it change your buildup to the match because you were playing Dominic?
ERNESTS GULBIS: No. We warm up together. We try to do to the same buildup.
Q. Did you talk about it beforehand?
ERNESTS GULBIS: What there is to talk? No.
Q. All normal?
ERNESTS GULBIS: All normal, yeah. All normal. The quality of the match, I wish it would be higher.
Q. How often do you play practice sets when you’re practicing?
ERNESTS GULBIS: Not very often. Not very often. We usually hit balls. Not often. Last time we played — it was probably in off-season when we played a practice set. We work on different things when we practice.
