Gulbis, Berdych look to end slumps in Barcelona

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Gulbis, Berdych look to end slumps in Barcelona

4/20/09 1:00 AM | Ricky Dimon
Struggling Ernests Gulbis and Tomas Berdych will be hard-pressed to record wins in their Barcelona openers against Potito Starace and Martin Vassallo Arguello, respectively.

Ernests Gulbis vs. Potito Starace

It will be the second career head-to-head encounter between Gulbis and Starace when they kick off the 2009 Open Banco Sabadell in Barcelona, Spain on Monday morning on Court 1. Gulbis took their only previous meeting 7-5, 7-6(4), 6-3 in the first round of the 2007 U.S. Open. That started Gulbis' real breakout on the ATP circuit, as he went on to reach the fourth round following a shocklingy dominant upset of then-Top 10 player Tommy Robredo. The 20-year-old Latvian also made it to the French Open quarterfinals last season, but he has hit a wall in 2009. Gulbis is just 7-10 on the year and has won just a single match since mid-February. Starace has not been any better; the Italian heads into Barcelona with a 5-10 mark for his 2009 campaign. Still, relative to their respective talent, that's not nearly as bad as Gulbis. Clay will also help Starace immensely in evening the head-to-head score against his opponent. He does his best work on this surface and--his 2008 French Open aberration notwithstanding--Gulbis much prefers faster surfaces. Count on Starace advancing in easy straight sets.

(15) Tomas Berdych vs. Martin Vassallo Arguello

Berdych and Vassallo Arguello will do battle for the first time at they ATP level when they conclude Monday's action on Court 1. The last time they met was six years ago in the minor leagues of tennis; Vassallo Arguello dominated that clay-court encounter 6-2, 6-2. While that match means nothing now, a somewhat similar result would not be shocking since this one will also be contested on the slow stuff. It's a surface on which Vassallo Arguello thrives, and he showed as much last week with an upset of Igor Andreev in Monte-Carlo, after which he almost toppled eventual semifinalist Stanislas Wawrinka. The Argentine has played five clay-court tournaments so far this year and he has not lost in the first round in any of them. Berdych owns a disappointing 7-8 match record at the ATP level this season and was stunned in the Monte-Carlo first round by capable clay-courter Fabio Fognini. The Czech would almost certainly have his way with Vassallo Arguello on a faster surface, but it will be a different story on the Barcelona dirt. Vassallo Arguello in a three-set upset is the pick.

Dudi Sela vs. Jose Acasuso

Sela and Acasuso have square off once before, with Acasuso prevailing 6-4, 6-4 on the hard courts of the Masters Series Miami just over one year ago. While Sela fares well on clay, the slow stuff should give Acasuso even more of an advantage. It is by far the Argentine's favorite surface and already this season he has one runner-up finish on clay and three semifinal performances. Those four results came in four successive weeks during the South American clay-court swing back in February. Acasuso, however, has not won a single match since, losing in the first round of three straight ATP tournaments. Sela is making his 2009 clay-court debut in the main draw of an ATP event. The 5'9'' Israeli lost in the first round of Monte-Carlo qualifying to Steve Darcis. Sela has advanced past the first round in four of six main draws this season and also reached the semifinals in Memphis, but the dirt will make it tough for him against Acasuso. Look for Acasuso to prevail in three sets, as his heavy topspin groundstrokes should take a toll on his much smaller opponent.

Check out Ernests Gulbis and Potito Starace head-to-head statistics

Check out Dudi Sela and Jose Acasuso head-to-head statistics

Check out Tomas Berdych and Martin Vassallo Arguello head-to-head statistics

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Comments

Well, Ernie started out great, then? I only saw the scores and not the match so I'm hoping you will fill in the blanks, Ricky!

Rafterfan , 4/20/09 6:03 PM

I will, let me just say for now that it was another legendary collapse, of which even Safin would be proud.

Gulbis led 6-4, 3-1, 0-40 on Starace's serve. I hate to say it, but this could be the beginning of the end. MAYBE even the end of the end!

RickyDimon , 4/20/09 6:44 PM

Thats too pessimistic considering he is just 20. Im expecting some improvement after he gets a new coach, he might be very good for the grass season I hope

orion , 4/20/09 8:57 PM

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